Money-stashing karmapa may be tried

Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th karmapa who is suspected of involvement in a hawala scam, has no diplomatic immunity and is liable for legal action under Indian laws.

A government official categorically said on Friday India did not recognise the Tibetan government in exile and instead called it Dalai Lama’s Bureau.

“For India, Tibetans are refugees. They do not have diplomatic immunity. Law has to take its own course. Authorities are investigating the matter and they will decide the course of action,” the official said.

The government clarified that the karmapa was one of the candidates likely to succeed the Dalai Lama, not his chosen successor.

Another official said India treated Tibetan monks as religious leaders and the same treatment would be meted out to them as is to Indian religious leaders flouting laws.

The Himachal Pradesh government had recovered Rs7 crore in 23 currencies in raids on the Mandi headquarters of the karmapa and other places, including karmapa trust offices at Sidhbari, about six km from Dharamsala, and Majnu-ka-Tila office in Delhi, on Thursday. The raids were conducted after Una Police seized Rs1 crore from a vehicle at the Mehatpur barrier.

Police believe the money was being used to spread Chinese influence in Himachal and other parts of the country. Known for his modern lifestyle, which includes playing video games and listening to rap music, the karmapa is suspected to be a Chinese link helping Beijing control Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. He had secretly come to India in 2000, allegedly at the behest of Ki-se-Tu Rinpoche, who extradition ordered by the Indian government 15 years ago was annulled by the Supreme Court.

Police are trying to verify the seized money’s source. They have arrested Rabgyal Soshing alias Shakti Lama, a key functionary of Karma Garchen Trust which has its office in Gyato monastery.