Karmapa in Soup Over Currency Case

CHANDIGARH:In a setback to Tibetan religious leader 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, an accused in currency seizure case, Himachal Pradesh High Court on Wednesday set aside the decision of a trial court to drop charges against him.

The High Court has directed the government to initiate criminal proceedings against the Karmapa, who was caught with illegal foreign and domestic currency worth Rs 5.97 crore.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had dropped charges of forex violations against him.

On Wednesday Justice Sureshwar Thakur, in a 48-page judgment said, “The impugned order rendered on May 21, 2012, by the Judicial Magistrate of Una is hereby quashed and set aside. In sequel, the application referred to the trial court by the Assistant Public Prosecutor for permission to withdraw from prosecution against the Karmapa herein is dismissed.”

While disposing of the petition of Gangtok-based NGO Denzong Nang-Ten Sung-kyob Tsogpa, Justice Thakur asked the government, including the Director General of Police, to proceed against the Karmapa in accordance with the law.