Karmapa not anti-India, says his spokesperson

Video

Dharamsala: The police on Sunday went to Gyuto monastery in Dharamsala to question Tibetan spiritual leader Karmapa Lama over the source of the huge amounts of cash, including Chinese currency, seized from the monastery.

This follows the interrogation of other accused in the case. Police claim that there is a direct link between the money recovered and property deals in Himachal Pradesh and other states. Five people including a hotelier and an assistant bank manager have been arrested so far in the case.

Meanwhile Karmapa's spokesperson defended him saying that he cannot be anti India as the country is his second home.

Click to play videoDharamsala: The police on Sunday went to Gyuto monastery in Dharamsala to question Tibetan spiritual leader Karmapa Lama over the source of the huge amounts of cash, including Chinese currency, seized from the monastery.

This follows the interrogation of other accused in the case. Police claim that there is a direct link between the money recovered and property deals in Himachal Pradesh and other states. Five people including a hotelier and an assistant bank manager have been arrested so far in the case.

Meanwhile Karmapa's spokesperson defended him saying that he cannot be anti India as the country is his second home.

He said, "Karmapa is very grateful for getting refuge in India. He is grateful to the people and government of India and values his obligations towards India."

Justifying the huge cash haul form various countries the spokesperson said that thousands of followers from various countries make offerings in sealed envelope as well as in kind and that Karmapa kn! ows noth ing about the currency.

Defending Karmapa, his lawyer Naresh Mathur said, "If he was intending any fraud, he would have converted all money into Indian money and put it in banks. He wanted to take permission from the government under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act."

Foreign currency worth Rs 7 crore was recovered from Karmapa's office. Meanwhile candle light march were held protesting raids at offices of Karmapa Lama. Thousands of followers and devotees of Karmapa Lama gathered at BodhGaya in Bihar and carried out a candle light march against the police action at his residence.

Police raids were conducted in the offices and residences of close aides of Karmapa on Saturday.