Pori Moni's remands: HC says judges’ reply undermines court
CID asked to submit probe report in a narcotics case against Pori Moni by 10 October
The High Court (HC) on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the explanations of the two trial court judges who placed actor Pori Moni on remand for the second and third time in a narcotics case.
"The Supreme Court guidelines on remand were violated in the case of Pori Moni and now the judges have undermined the court with their explanation instead of conceding [that the granting the remand prayers was wrong]," said a HC bench of Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajal.
Later, the court fixed 29 September for passing an order in this regard.
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Earlier this week, the two lower court judges -- Dhaka Metropolitan magistrates Debabrata Biswas and Atikul Islam – submitted two separate written explanations seeking apology to the Supreme Court registrar general's office following an HC order.
The state has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards narcotics, the judges mentioned in their explanations, adding that the actor was arrested with 18 litres of liquor and LSD in possession.
They also mentioned a recent incident where Dhaka University student Hafizur Rahman, 24, allegedly killed himself after taking LSD.
In their explanations, the two trial court judges also claimed that any error in this regard, if any, was a mistake in good faith.
Citing the two aforementioned points made by the judges, the High Court said, "From their explanation it seems that they have not done any wrong. They have undermined the court by giving such explanations."
The HC also asked the investigating officer in the case to appear before them on 29 September.
Pori Moni was shown arrested in a narcotics case a day later after she had been arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on 4 August this year.
She was denied bail several times and remained imprisoned in custody for 27 days.
On 21 August, in open court, Pori Moni begged her lawyers to submit another bail petition after the end of her third remand.
"Why doesn't anyone plead for my bail? I will lose my sanity, please apply for my bail," she screamed.
Her lawyer filed a bail plea on 22 August. But, the court set 13 September to hold a hearing on the plea.
The High Court at that time strongly denounced the role of the magistrates and police over putting the actor on remand three times in a single case.
"It needs to be checked what evidence the investigating officer presented with the remand pleas and the reasons why the court granted the remands," the court said.
On 26 August, the High Court 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.
Order to submit probe report by 10 October
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Wednesday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit a probe report, in a case filed against Pori Moni under Narcotics Control Act, before it by October 10.
The court also directed the CID to submit a report as early as possible on whether or not it would return a private car and other valuables seized from Pori Moni's residence as evidence in the case.
Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder passed the order as the CID failed to submit the report on Wednesday, the scheduled day for submission of the report.
The drugs case against Pori Moni was filed by RAB with Banani police station after the actor had been detained during a raid on her house.
The actor was present before the court during Wednesday's hearing. She also made an application seeking an order to return her private vehicle and other valuables seized from her residence.
