HC seek explanations for Pori Moni’s multiple remands

The High Court (HC) has sought explanations from the magistrates concerned as to why they permitted police to grill actor Pori Moni for the second and third times in a narcotics case.

The two magistrates of Dhaka Metropolitan Court on Thursday were asked to submit their explanations within 10 days.

The High Court also summoned investigating officer Kazi Golam Mostafa, an inspector of the police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) who is handling the actor's drug case, to appear in court with the case docket on 15 September.

The High Court said the two magistrates will also have to appear before the court if they fail to submit satisfactory explanations while hearing the plea made by the human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK).

The plea filed on 29 August challenged the continuous remanding of actor Shamsunnahar Smriti – known by her screen name Pori Moni – and sought the intervention of the High Court. The court set 15 September for the next hearing.

On 26 August, the High Court had issued a ruling over the delay in hearing Pori Moni's bail petition and set 1 September for its hearing.

While the ruling was still pending, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court granted bail to Pori Moni on 31 August. She was released from jail custody the next morning.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the actor from her Banani residence during a raid. Law enforcers also claimed to have seized a huge consignment of liquor and drugs during the drive.

Subsequently, on 5 August, a case was filed against Pori Moni and her associate Ashraful Islam Dipu with the Banani Police Station.

In this drug case, the CID took her on remand twice and the actor had been in jail custody since 21 August following the police quizzing.

Lawyer ZI Khan Panna, Mohammad Mojibur Rahman, and Dr Sayeda Nasrin stood for ASK while Assistant Attorney General Mizanur Rahman represented the state.

Remand sought 'to find out the narco moneymen'

"The seizures during the raid on Pori Moni's residence included 18 litres of liquor and LSD. Since the CID received the drug case from police, she was required to be interrogated further," the CID told the lower court while asking for Pori Moni's remand for the second time on 10 August.

The third remand plea on 19 August stated, "The accused has given vital information on the charges and individuals behind the scene. The information gleaned from her is being scrutinised for the sake of proper investigation and justice.

"Now another five days of remand is needed to hunt down the narco chiefs, trace the drug chain, and find out the moneymen running the narco gang."

Pori Moni case supervising officer sent on retirement

In a separate development on Thursday, Sheikh Omar Faruque, the additional deputy inspector general of CID's Dhaka Metro Division, was sent on retirement.

He was the investigation supervising officer of the cases against Pori Moni, models Faria Mahbub Piasha and Mou Akter, as well as politician Helena Jahangir.

In a gazette notification on Thursday, the Public Security Division of the home ministry said Sheikh Omar Faruque had been sent on retirement following Section 45 of Public Service Act, 2018.

According to that section, after the completion of 25 years in service, the government can send any public servant on retirement at any time without any prior notice for the sake of public interest.

Sheikh Omar Faruque, a cadre of the 12th batch of Bangladesh Civil Service, joined Bangladesh Police in 1991. He is currently 58 years old.