Probe into cash haul in monastery continues: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) As investigation continues intothe large cash haul from a Buddhist monastery linked to theKarmapa, Home Minister P Chidambaram today said he was yet todraw any conclusion on the issue as the probe was still on.

Chidambaram said various government agencies wereinvestigating into the recovery of Rs 7.5 crore from theoffices of a trust backed by Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje inHimachal Pradesh.

"I have been briefed but I am not prepared to draw anyconclusion at this stage. And since I did not draw anyconclusion, I can''t share anything with you either," he saidwhen asked about the reports of Chinese link to the cash haul.

The Karmapa, however, denied any Chinese link and saidthe charges against him were "grossly speculative and withoutfoundation".

The Karmapa said the money was donated by devotees, whocome from all over the world and belonged to the trust.

The police arrested two persons -- Ashutosh and SanjayDutt -- on January 26 after alleged recovery of Rs 1 crore andlater nabbed Shakti Lama, a key functionary of the Karmapa-backed trust, who were remanded in police custody for ninedays.

The residence and office of Monastery functionaryGompu Tshering were raided next day and foreign currency inUS dollars worth Rs 4 lakh was recovered.

The sleuths of Intelligence Bureau, EnforcementDirectorate and Income Tax Department have also joined theprobe.