Pori Moni case: Prime accused arrested, what is next?

Hours after actress Shamsunnahar Smrity – known as Pori Moni by her legion of fans – lodged a complaint with the police, the Detective Branch arrested real estate businessman Nasiruddin Mahmood and Omi in a case filed over attempted rape and murder.

Aside from the two prime accused, the DMP detectives detained three young women members of a DJ group on Monday from Nasiruddin's residence at Uttara 1 after conducting a raid. Law enforcers also seized yaba tablets, foreign liquor and beer from there.

The five detainees have been taken to the DB office in Mintoo road of the capital, sources have said, adding that the three women are not connected with Pori Moni's case – which was filed against Nasiruddin, Omi and four unnamed people with the Savar police station.

Deputy Commissioner of DB Gulshan Division Mashiur Rahman later told reporters that a fresh case under the Narcotics Control Act will be filed against Nasiruddin, Omi and the three young women after further investigation.

Nasiruddin is the chairman of Kunjo Properties, a founding executive member of Dhaka Boat Club and a former president of Uttara Club Ltd. He is also a presidium member of the Jatiya Party, the opposition party in parliament.

His accomplice Omi – a friend of Pori Moni's costume designer Jimmy – has been accused of taking the actress to the Dhaka Boat Club in a premeditated way. Joint Commissioner of DB Harun or Rashid said the accused duo are illegal peddlers of liquor.

The DB official was among the team that carried out the raid at Nasiruddin's home.

Police will keep the arrestees at the DB office till Tuesday morning for primary interrogation, and produce them before a court the same day seeking remand, said Joint Commissioner (North) of DB Harun or Rashid.

Pori Moni's allegations

In a Facebook post on Sunday, four days after the alleged incident, Pori Moni claimed that Nasiruddin sexually assaulted and then threatened to kill her at Dhaka Boat Club on the night of 8 June. She was there with her costume designer Jimmy and his friend Omi.

Later on Sunday night, the renowned actress held a press conference and reiterated her allegations. Pori Moni also claimed that she sought help from the police and even from Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, but received no support from them.

A few hours later, DMP's Rupnagar police station Officer-in-charge Ariful Islam Sarder went to Pori Moni's Banani residence with a team to record her statement. On Monday morning, a police official visited the Savar police station and registered a case on the basis of her allegations.

Assistant Inspector General (Media) Mir Shohel Rana told media that the actress never lodged any complaints with the IGP, and his name has been mentioned in the incident intentionally.

What is the case statement?

According to the statement, the incident took place on 8 June around midnight when Pori Moni along with her younger sister Boni, costume designer Omi and some other companions went to the Dhaka Boat Club of Beri Badh area in the capital's Savar.

The renowned actress claimed that she was heading towards Uttara from her Banani residence around 11:30pm, but Omi persuaded her to visit that specific club. While journeying there, Omi said he needed to go to the Dhaka Boat Club for a 2-minute task.

When they reached the club around 12:20am, Pori Moni and her companions found it closed. However, Omi had a conversation with someone over phone and made arrangements to reopen the entrance of the club.

He continued to persuade Pori Moni into entering the club, the statement says. The group then entered the club and Boni went to the toilet beside the club bar. Soon after, Nasiruddin Mahmud approached Pori Moni and requested the group to sit in the bar with him.

He then offered the group liquor and coffee. When they refused, Nasiruddin turned violent and forced Pori Moni to drink liquor. He also assaulted her sexually. Her companions, including costume designer Jimmy, tried to protect the actress from him and failed.

At one stage, she tried repeatedly to call the national emergency service at 999 but Nasiruddin snatched her phone. Pori Moni alleged that around four people, including her costume designer Omi, aided the assault perpetrated by Nasiruddin.

She somehow managed to leave the club around 3am and returned home with help of her companions, excluding Omi. Pori Moni also alleged that the accused are now intimidating and threatening her since the incident occurred.

Bakhtiar Ahmed Khan, executive committee member (administration) of Dhaka Boat Club told reporters that they will launch an official investigation according to the club regulations. He also apologised for the actions committed by one of their members that night.

He continued, "Pori Moni is a reputed actress in Bangladesh, and we have the utmost respect for her. We also grieve for she what went through. The law will follow its own course, but accused Nasiruddin Mahmood would face punishment from the club too."

The Dhaka Boat Club has suspended three members including Nasiruddin and Omi, and formed a probe committee to investigate the incident on Monday.

No CCTV cameras inside the club

A police team led by additional superintendent of police (Savar Circle) Abdullah Hil Kafi, accompanied by Savar model police station Officer-in-Charge Kazi Mainul Islam, visited the Dhaka Boat Club on Monday afternoon.

The team spent hours investigating the club and spoke with its executive committee members, staff and security guards who were also present on the night of the incident. Police sources said the club has no CCTV cameras inside it because "it is a place for family and social gatherings."

A member of the team on condition of anonymity said, "However, we collected CCTV footages covering outside premises of the club and quizzed most of the staff who were present there on the night of 8 June.

"This will be helpful in determining what actually happened there."

'Pori Moni was trespassing'

After his arrest on Monday, prime accused Nasiruddin Mahmood told the media that the actress and her associates were trying to trespass into the Dhaka Boat Club by force.

While being taken away to the Detective Branch office, the real estate businessman said, "Pori Moni and her associates were trying to enter the club by force despite not being members there.

"Acting drunk and violent, they tried to snatch some bottles of expensive foreign liquor. So I tried to stop them, but they misbehaved with us." He however declined to comment on the accusations of attempted rape and murder lodged against him.

Pori Moni recently was included in Forbes list of "Asia-Pacific's Most Influential Celebrities on Social Media."

The actor starred in hits like Pagla Deewana, Aro Bhalobashbo Tomay, Lover Number 1, Nagar Mastaan, Mohua Shundori, Amar Mon Jure Tui, Innocent Love, Surprise, Probashi Don, and Bhalobashar Onek Jala.

She had been a regular star in television dramas before debuting with the Rana Plaza movie.