Bo Gangkar Rimpoche from Sikkim, the main suspect in the case of illegal stay of foreign nationals, continues to elude Himachal police even as the eight Taiwanese arrested in Mandi on Wednesday are being interrogated for the possible motives for remaining in the country after expiry of their visas.
The union ministry of home affairs on Thursday clarified that an Indian national was also rounded up along with the Taiwanese.
All of them, who were remanded to the police custody till Saturday, are being grilled by the intelligence agencies along with local police.
Interrogators are trying to ascertain their motive for arriving on a tourist visa and staying on illegally to work as carpenters and mason in a mansion constructed by the controversial Rimpoche in Chauntra village of Jogindernagar.They have been booked in two cases registered by the Jogindernagar police station of Mandi District on June 12.
Bo Gangkar Rimpoche has also been named as an accused in the two cases and is wanted by Himachal Pradesh Police, said the home ministry spokesperson in a press release.
The 8 Taiwanese Nationals were found working as carpenters and painters in the house of Bo Gangkar Rimpoche in Chauntra near Jogindernagar. The Taiwanese Nationals had tourist visas and had violated the provisions of Foreigners Act, the home ministry stated.
A sum of Rs 30 lakhs in Indian currency, 3000 US Dollars and some other foreign currency notes along with SIM Cards and mobile phones were recovered during the raids conducted in the house following intelligence tip-off. Further investigation in the case is in progress.
The services of interpreters for interrogation have been arranged by Himachal Pradesh Police since Taiwanese cannot communicate in English or any other Indian language.