ATSUGI, Kanagawa -- Mudo Oda, a Buddhist priest and a household name in Japan because of his regular television appearances, was arrested Wednesday, police said.
Oda and two colleagues were arrested for forgery after they allegedly altered a list containing names of those who attended a religious organization's executive meeting in Tokyo during June last year.
Several gangsters believed to have been involved in the case are also wanted in connection with the case and police have launched a manhunt for them.
Police said that Oda altered the list when he was appointed head of the religious organization in June last year. The organization had a contract with a cemetery in suburban Tokyo to send out priests to perform funerals.
However, gangsters became involved in the case. The religious organization Oda headed tried to get out of the contract, apparently by changing the names of those who were at the executive meeting whose minutes Oda is accused of tampering with.
In February this year, police raided Enkozenji Temple, the temple where Oda works as chief priest, in connection with the alleged forgeries.