Police searches to trace Karmapa’s money trail

Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) : Indian police has reportedly quizzed Tibetan Buddhist leader Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje for his alleged Chinese links after his accountant was arrested the day before with an estimated Rs 8.5 crores in multiple currencies.

But a senior police official in Himachal Pradesh said Karmapa Trinley Dorje, Tibetan Buddhism’s third most important leader, was not interrogated, though his monastery’s treasurer was quizzed and searches are on to trace the source of the foreign currencies.

TV reports, however, said after questioning by the Himachal Police there would be more grilling by teams of the Indian external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

Karmapa was supported by interpreters during the interrogation since he only speaks Chinese, one report said.

However, Himachal Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S R Mardi told IBNS: “We have not interrogated the Karmapa as such. But searches are on in many residences. No restrictions have been imposed on the Buddhist leader.”

Mardi said the arrested treasurer (identified as Rubgi Chosang) has been only interrogated.

The monastery in Dharamsala said they would cooperate with the police and other agencies probing the source of the money.

The monastery said it would issue a press statement later, reports said.

Dorje was enthroned as the 17th Karmapa ? the head of the Karma Kagyu, one of the schools of Tibetan Buddhism ? after the death of the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. But his election has been embroiled in controversy and Trinley Thaye Dorje operates as a parallel Karmapa.

With about 11 lakh in Chinese yuan (Rs 76 lakh) being recovered in the raids, questions are being raised on whether Dorje was acting as a Chinese agent in Himachal Pradesh.
The head of the second-biggest Buddhist sect in Tibet, he escaped from China and arrived at the Tibetan exile quarters at McLeod Ganj in 2000. Officials now suspect that the escape was staged, reports said.

Authorities believe that with the money that was recovered on Friday, the Karmapa intended to set up a China-friendly Monastery on Kangra, Himachal Pradesh in an attempt to rally support for the country.

This is said to be Dorje?s third attempt to acquire land in Kangra, following attmepts earlier in 2007 and 2008 which were halted by the RBI and Enforcement Directorate after the started scrutinising the sources of the cash.