4 05-15-88 05:14 ped Speculation points to grand jury probe of Hare Krishna WHEELING, W.Va

     4  05-15-88 05:14 ped
 
 Speculation points to grand jury probe of Hare Krishna
    WHEELING, W.Va. (UPI) _ A controversy-ridden Hare Krishna commune
might fall under the microscope of a special grand jury, which has been
called to action by U.S. District Judge Robert Maxwell.
   Plans call for the jury to meet three days in June and return for a
like period in July.
   Maxwell, the chief judge for the federal court's Northern District
of West Virginia, approved the grand jury request for the U.S.
attorney's office last week.
   U.S. Attorney William Kolibash has said that the special grand jury
will look into "several cases involving different organizations in
different parts of the district."
   While the judge's order to convene a grand jury does not list the
organizations to be investigated, a Hare Krishna commune in Marshall
County near Moundsville _ known as New Vrindaban _ could become a target
of that investigation.
   The possibility of an official look-see into the New Vrindaban _
the largest Krishna community in North America _ surfaced in January, in
a letter from Maxwell to Charleston attorney James Lees.
   In the letter, Maxwell said federal authorities have sought to
launch a grand jury investigation of the Krishnas for more than a year.
   "The only suggested specific object of inquiry by the requested
grand jury ... is a murder conspiracy involving the Hare Krishna sect,"
Maxwell said in his Jan. 11 letter to Lees.
   Lees has served as legal counsel for a number of members of the
Krishna community.
   According to Kolibash, a number of groups in northern West Virginia
might beinvestigated.
   He said it "would not be appropriate" for him to divulge the
reason for requesting a special grand jury be empaneled, and he would
not confirm if theKrishna community would be one of the groups probed.
   Maxwell ordered that the 23-person grand jury be summoned to appear
June 8 at federal court in Elkins. 
 
United Press International
Charleston, W.Va.
 May 16, 1988
   
 
     2  05-14-88 12:25 ped
 
 wa-ntl
 Maxwell approves call for special grand jury
   WHEELING, W.Va. (UPI) _ U.S. District Judge Robert Maxwell has
granted a call for a special grand jury, and speculation is high that it
may probe the actions of the Hare Krishna community in Marshall County.
   Maxwell, chief judge for the federal court's Northern District of
West Virginia, approved the grand jury request for the U.S. attorney's
office this week. The jury will meet for three days in June and return
for three days in July.
   U.S. Attorney William Kolibash said Thursday the special grand jury
will investigate "several cases involving different organizations in
different parts of the district."
   Although the judge's order convening the grand jury does not list
the organizations to be investigated, New Vrindaban, the Hare Krishna
community near Moundsville, may be part of the probe.
   The possibility of a probe of New Vrindaban _ the largest Krishna
community in North America _ came up in January, in a letter from
Maxwell to Charleston attorney James Lees. In the letter, Maxwell said
federal authorities have been attempting to begin a grand jury
investigation of the Krishnas for more than a year.
   "The only suggested specific object of inquiry by the requested
grand jury ... is a murder conspiracy involving the Hare Krishna sect,"
Maxwell said in his Jan. 11 letter to Lees.
   Lees has represented several members of the Krishna community in
legal actions.
   Kolibash said several organizations in northern West Virginia may
be investigated. He said it "would not be appropriate" for him to
divulge the reason for requesting a special grand jury be empaneled, and
he would not confirm whether the Krishna community would be one of the
groups probed.
   Maxwell ordered that the 23-person grand jury be summoned to appear
June 8 at federal court in Elkins.