NEW DELHI/DHARAMSHALA/SHIMLA: The 17th Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorje, could be a Chinese "plant", suspect Indian intelligence agencies looking into the spiritual leader's affairs after raids on his transit home at Sidhbari near Dharamshala on Thursday night. Rs 8.5 crore worth foreign currency was recovered.
Intelligence agencies say the Karmapa may be part of a Chinese plan to control monasteries along the Sino-Indian border. The exact circumstances of Dorje's "escape" from Tibet in 2000 have always puzzled Indian agencies. He claimed to have hoodwinked Chinese authorities by going into exclusion and reaching Nepal.
A source said the agencies have information to suggest the Karmapa has links with China, including funding. "The huge recovery, including 11 lakh Chinese yuan, substantiates what we have always suspected. The Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax authorities have been asked to probe this," said an intelligence official. He added Dorje may be questioned.
Besides the Yuan and Rs 4 lakh, the police recovered US and Australian dollars, Japanese Yen, pound sterling and Thai Baht. "There's no account of these currencies. Questioning of a close aide of the Karmapa, Rabjaychojan alias Shakti Lama, arrested after Thursday's raid, has not revealed the source of the money," said the official. Lama's claim Rs 4 lakh was withdrawn from a bank at Majnu Ka Tila, a Tibetan market in Delhi, is being verified.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said it was for the Union home and external affairs ministries to act against the Tibetan refugees. He said his government's mandate was restricted to observing the violation of Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.
Intelligence agencies say the Karmapa may be part of a Chinese plan to control monasteries along the Sino-Indian border. The exact circumstances of Dorje's "escape" from Tibet in 2000 have always puzzled Indian agencies. He claimed to have hoodwinked Chinese authorities by going into exclusion and reaching Nepal.
A source said the agencies have information to suggest the Karmapa has links with China, including funding. "The huge recovery, including 11 lakh Chinese yuan, substantiates what we have always suspected. The Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax authorities have been asked to probe this," said an intelligence official. He added Dorje may be questioned.
Besides the Yuan and Rs 4 lakh, the police recovered US and Australian dollars, Japanese Yen, pound sterling and Thai Baht. "There's no account of these currencies. Questioning of a close aide of the Karmapa, Rabjaychojan alias Shakti Lama, arrested after Thursday's raid, has not revealed the source of the money," said the official. Lama's claim Rs 4 lakh was withdrawn from a bank at Majnu Ka Tila, a Tibetan market in Delhi, is being verified.
Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said it was for the Union home and external affairs ministries to act against the Tibetan refugees. He said his government's mandate was restricted to observing the violation of Himachal Pradesh Tenancy and Land Reforms Act.
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