Income tax officials quiz detained Tibetans

Our Correspondent

Una, February 7

Income tax officials are questioning the four Tibetans who were detained for having about Rs 30 lakh in foreign and Indian currencies at the Mehatpur inter-state barrier yesterday.

While the Income Tax Department is still probing the statement made to them by the four persons, the cash has been handed over to the Una police.

Since the occupants of the vehicle failed to produce documents or satisfactory answers regarding the cash being transported, they were taken to the Mehatpur police station. The four persons, reportedly from to some Tibetan organisations in Dharamsala, include Hu Tuk Tuk Kirti Lobsang, Tsundu, Sherab Tashi and vehicle driver Kunhok Top.

Income tax officials from Panchkula reached here last night after the Una police informed them about the seizure. The four persons told the officials that the money was received as offerings at various Buddhist religious centres and was being transported to some guru in Dharamsala. Their statements are reportedly being correlated and cross-checked by the officials.

Una DSP (Headquarters) Kulwinder Singh said no case had been registered against the four persons since the department was still verifying their statements regarding the origin of the money. He said it was for the department to decide whether the case should be registered, adding that if the department would recommend proceedings, a case under relevant sections would be registered.