Pori Moni on 4-day remand in drugs case
She was handed over to the DB headquarters for further interrogation, after the case was transferred to DB
A Dhaka court on Thursday placed Shamsunnahar Smrity, popularly known as Pori Moni, on a four-day remand in a case filed under Narcotics Control Act by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Metropolitan Magistrate Mainul Islam of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court passed the remand order after Inspector (Investigation) at Banani Police Station Sheikh Sohel Rana, the investigating officer of the case, produced the Dhalywood actress before the court around 8:30pm, seeking seven days' remand for further interrogation in the case.
Pori Moni's Lawyer Nilanjona Rifat Surovi said, "The amount of liquor shown during the actress' arrest was not present in the house. Besides, Pori collects empty bottles of fancy foreign liquor."
"As she is a reputed actress in the film industry in Bangladesh, remanding her will tarnish her reputation. So, I appealed to the court to grant her bail," added Nilanjona.
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Earlier, RAB filed the case against Pori Moni with Banani Police Station on Thursday evening, around 22 hours after her detention from her Banani residence in the capital.
RAB handed over Pori Moni to the Banani police and the police later produced her in court at the last moment of her 24 hours detention.
Pori Moni's manager Ashraful Islam was also accused in the case and placed on a four-day remand.
RAB also filed a separate case against Nazrul Islam Raj, owner of Raj Multimedia, and his manager Sabuj Ali with the same police station under the Narcotics Control Act.
Both the accused were placed on a four-day remand after police produced them in court, seeking seven-day remand for each.
The cases have been transferred to the Detective Branch of police and all the four accused of the two narcotics cases are currently being handed over to the DB headquarters for further interrogation, said Banani Police Station Officer in charge (OC) Nur-e-Azam Miah while filing this report at 10pm Thursday.
RAB officials said they are going to file a case under Pornography Control Act against Nazrul but they did not file the case till filing this report.
Meanwhile, RAB in a media briefing on Thursday afternoon at its headquarters claimed that Pori Moni and her accomplices were involved with illicit activities like arranging regular alcohol parties at her residence and some other luxurious places in upscale areas in the capital.
RAB's legal and media wing Director Commander Khandoker Al Moin told the media that the actress had been addicted to alcohol since 2016 when she was becoming popular in the showbiz industry.
"Pori Moni has turned her residence into a mini bar to drink alcohol and Nazrul Islam Raz and some others supplied huge amount of liquors relentlessly," he said, adding that the date for the alcohol license of the actress was expired.
Al Moin said, "Pori Moni used to host regular parties at her home, where Raj and his syndicate supplied foreign liquor and various types of drugs. Raj used to run an illegal narcotics supply syndicate comprising 10-12 individuals. His accomplices were Shariful Hasan alias Mishu Hasan, and Masudul Islam alias Jisan."
"This syndicate used to host DJ parties in Gulshan, Baridhara and Banani. People belonging to the upper class and well-off families were among the regular party-goers. The parties were intimate in nature and only 15-20 invited guests could attend the parties. Each party was organised according to the taste of the guests," he added.
The RAB official further said the syndicate also used to host and facilitate pleasure trips for interested individuals. These people were usually contacted by Raj through social media and his firm Raj Multimedia. The office of Raj Multimedia was also used to facilitate such illegal activities.
He claimed that during primary interrogation, Raj had mentioned the names of a few of his illegal business financiers and was yet to reveal the full details of his illegal substance racket.
"Raj and Pori Moni were involved in blackmailing and extortion," he also claimed.
RAB additional director General Colonel AKM Azad told TBS that they have obtained some "valuable information" regarding some other businessmen and models involved in the blackmailing racket.
"We have just got the information and we are verifying the information. Further raids might be carried out based on the information," he added.
Earlier, on Wednesday evening, RAB detained Pori Moni after a raid at her Banani residence in the capital. The elite force also claimed to have seized a huge quantity of foreign liquors, LSD drugs and ICE-consuming pipes.
Later, based on Pori Moni's information, RAB conducted another raid at Raj's residence at Banani area on Wednesday night.
Pori Moni recently made the headlines after accusing businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmood of trying to rape and murder her at Dhaka Boat Club.
Police subsequently arrested Nasir, also a Dhaka Boat Club member, in a case filed by the Dhallywood actress. He is on bail now.
