Karmapa Lama: Indian police charge Tibetan exile leader
Indian police have charged exiled Tibetan leader the Karmapa Lama after seizing about $1.4m (£900,000) in cash at his monastery in Dharamsala.
They allege the cash was being held in violation of foreign exchange rules.
But the Karmapa's aides say that it was provided by thousands of supporters in the form of donations to his monastery.
The Karmapa heads one of the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism and is expected to play a prominent spiritual role in the event of the death of the Dalai Lama.
Correspondents say that the district court where the criminal conspiracy charges were filed will soon make a decision as to whether the case should come to trial.
The Karmapa is seen as the third most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.
He fled Tibet in 1999 and arrived in Dharamsala - in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh - which is the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
The Dalai Lama said in January, when the money was seized, that there should be a "thorough investigation" into the matter.
Police said at the time that the "unaccounted" money was made up of 24 currencies.
The Karmapa is reported to have told investigating agencies that he received the money in donations from followers and that it was being used to purchase land for a monastery.
Lawyers for the Karmapa say that he has not yet received any formal notice from the court or a copy of the charge sheet.
He has argued in the past that he is not involved in the financial affairs of his religious order.
Karmapa Lama: Indian police charge Tibetan exile leader
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