CID takes over cases of Pori Moni, Helena Jahangir, 2 models

Seven cases recently filed against two models, Dhallywood actress Pori Moni, film producer Nazrul Islam Raj and sacked Awami League leader Helena Jahangir have been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

CID will investigate the cases filed against arrested model Faria Mahbub Piasha, Marium Akter Mou, Pori Moni and her associate, Nazrul Islam Raj and Helena Jahangir, said CID's Additional Police Superintendent (Media) Azad Rahman.

Most of the cases were being investigated by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Pori Moni and Raj were arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Wednesday night in separate raids in the Banani area and claimed to have seized illicit drugs, liquors from a minibar inside the house. Two separate cases under the Narcotics Control Act were filed against them.

The DB has seized a list of over 50 models from film producer Raj who has been arrested with illegal drugs and sex toys used to make pornography, and more than one model in the list has said they were victims and did not come to Raj willingly.

Raj wanted to use these young models in immoral ways, alluring them to build a career in the showbiz industry, presenting popular heroine Pori Moni as an example, several officials of DB confirmed.

"On the first day of the four-day remand, some alarming information was found from Raj who used to entertain people of different professions in different places with some so-called models. We also have information about the people whom he used to entertain. We are trying to get details from him regarding the matter," said DB Joint Commissioner Harun Ur Rashid.

Meanwhile, DB arrested the two models on Sunday night and sued them under the Narcotics Control Act after raiding their houses in Dhaka for their alleged involvement with a blackmailing gang.

Although the police said there were allegations of blackmailing against two models, no cases were filed on that charge. The police could not show any specific allegations of blackmailing either.

A case for possessing drugs was filed against Mou with Mohammadpur Police Station while Piasha faced three cases for the same allegations filed with Gulshan, Bhatara and Khilkhet Police Station.

The duo is in police remand for the second phase.

Meanwhile, the RAB arrested Helena Jahangir from her Gulshan apartment on 29 July.

Later, RAB-4 officer Idris Ali filed a case with Pallabi Police Station under Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Act for operating IPTV Joyjatra Television without government approval and license and running its office illegally in Dhaka's Mirpur area.

The IPTV office was sealed off following RAB's raid.

Uneducated raj has made fortune with the help of some depraved people

Raj is not educated. He used to do petty things for a living. However, he has made a very good fortune through immoral acts. Some depraved people are responsible for this, said DB Joint Commissioner Harun Ur Rashid.

"He [Raj] told us some names to whom he used to supply models. Since the interrogation has started, he will give us more information and we will be able to name those people later. He used to do these things in domestic parties with the children of the upper-middle-class or rich people," he said further.

Pori Moni also admitted that she used to run the unethical business behind her acting career and who had patronised her. The police are trying to get more information in this regard. Her costume designer Jimmy will be arrested soon, he added.

DB took charge of investigating two cases under the Narcotics Control Act against Pori Moni and Raj after two cases were registered against them at Banani Police Station on Thursday evening. 

DB detains film director Chayanika Chowdhury 

The DMP detained television drama and film director Chayanika Chowdhury, a close associate of actor Pori Moni, on Friday.

Allegations against the female director were not cleared by the law enforcers immediately.

She has been taken to the DB office at the capital's Minto road just after she had left Somoy TV office after attending a talk show, Nazmul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of DB Cyber and Special Crime, confirmed the news to The Business Standard.

Pori Moni revealed the name of a female director during her interrogation. After their face-to-face interrogation, DB will verify whether the director was Chayanika, a DB official said.

Chayanika Chowdhury directed a film called Bishwoshundori last year in which Pori Moni played the lead role.