Devotees feel Karmapa Lama not working for Chinese

GANGTOK - Monks and devotees of Rumtek Monastery at Gangtok supported 7th Karmapa Lama in the money laundering case.

K.N. Topden, a monk said Karmapa Lama is not like as he is portrayed.

“Karmapa is not like what they are saying, investigation is going on and finally we have found that there is no evidence that he is working for the Chinese government or he is going against the interest of the government,” said Topden.

Meanwhile, D.S. Manhas, Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh said that the Tibetan administration has been supporting them in conducting the investigation.

“They are helping us in coming to certain conclusions. So there is no problem of any kind, as far as government of Tibetan-exile is concern or even Tibetan community is concerned by and large. So there has been no opposition as far as investigation is concerned,” said the top police official.

Manhas also added that the enforcement directorate and income tax people are conducting investigation into the case whereas police are trying to know from where the money came from.

“As of now, the case stands, the enforcement directorate and income tax people are making their own investigations into the money laundering aspect that police is not looking into. We are only trying to establish how did this money come and what it is meant for and what are the other violations which have taken place,” he added.

The Karmapa Lama is being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate officials, and continues to remain under the scanner for his alleged Chinese links.

Police have so far arrested several people in connection with the seizure and raided several places in Himachal Pradesh and New Delhi.

During questioning, Karmapa had said he was not aware of the seizure of foreign currency worth over Rs 7.5 crore from the monastery and maintained that Shakti Lama and Gompu Tshering handled the affairs of the trust.

Karmapa’s office had also maintained that Karmapa had nothing to do with currency and money was received by way of offerings and donations from disciples coming from different parts of the world, including China and Tibet. (ANI)