I have been framed, claims Pori Moni

Dhallywood actress Shamsunnahar Smrity, popularly known as Pori Moni, who was placed on a two-day remand on Tuesday said she had been deliberately framed in a false case.

With the same attire – a black and red check shirt, white jeans and white sneakers, wearing glasses and a mask – for five days since being arrested, an exhausted Pori Moni was shattered while being produced before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court after a four-day remand in a narcotics case.

"I have been deliberately framed, and the media has turned a blind eye to my misery,'' Pori Moni shouted and expressed her agonies to media persons when she walked out of the court.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Debabrata Biswas granted another two days of fresh remand for Pori Moni and her associate Ashraful Islam Dipu for further interrogation in the narcotics case.

Meanwhile, CID Inspector Golam Mostafa sought remand for investigating around 18.5 litres of liquor seized from Pori Moni's Banani residence and gleaning more detailed information about Pori Moni and Dipu, who had been involved in illicit work through social media.    

During the hearing, Pori Moni broke into tears when her lawyer Mozibur Rahman sought her bail, saying an actress has been wearing the same dress for 122 hours. "As an actress, she has a lifestyle."

Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu then told the court, "Not changing attires is the politics of Pori Moni. Everyone here has changed attires. She did not change her clothes intentionally."

Shamsul Haque Gazi, the centenarian grandfather of the actress, came to the court to have a look at her, who was remanded in CID custody after being arrested in the narcotics case.

He said, "She has done nothing for herself in life… donated for all people… now a victim of the situation… did not own a flat, did not do anything… gives cows to FDC for the poor… donates everything for people."

In another development, the court placed Nazrul Islam Raj and his associate Sabuz on a six-day fresh remand in two cases filed under the Pornography Act and the Narcotics Control Act.

CID interrogation

CID high officials, including an additional deputy inspector general and two senior special superintendents of police, are interrogating the seven accused, including Pori Moni and models Faria Mahabub Piasha and Mariom Akter Mou, at the CID's old building in an all-out confidential process.

An official said they had already seized six luxurious cars of the accused, are now verifying the income sources, and are examining the posh lifestyle of the accused.

At a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon, CID chief Mahbubur Rahman said they would maintain legal procedures if they needed to call someone for questioning in connection with the recent cases, including the one against Pori Moni.

He also warned the public not to fall prey to blackmailers.

"We are not making any list. We are just verifying the names of what we have gleaned during interrogation," he said.

"Do not be fooled by any extortionist. We will maintain the police protocol if anybody needs to be called for interrogation," he added.

The CID chief made the comment in the wake of some complaints from various individuals that they are being threatened to pay extortion for their reported links with Pori Moni and others who were arrested recently during Rapid Action Battalion drives.

He also asked people to inform law enforcers if they face any harassment in this connection.

The CID chief further said they are getting the names of many people while interrogating the arrestees but would not disclose those until their involvement is proven.

So far, 15 cases have been filed against the arrestees, including Pori Moni, Raj, Piasha, and Mou. Of those, CID is investigating eight cases.

DMP commissioner on ADC Saklain

Recently transferred Detective Branch Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Md Golam Saklain's link with Pori Moni is not a crime but a violation of discipline and the code of conduct in his job, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Shafiqul Islam.

But he said the incident had embarrassed the police authorities.

Shafiqul came up with the observation while talking with journalists in his office at the DMP headquarters on Tuesday.

The DMP chief reiterated that they had not prepared any list of businessmen in relation with Pori Moni and others arrested recently, but a "syndicate" was spreading some names for extorting money from them.

Shafiqul said he had talked with the CID chief, who also assured that they were not preparing any list.

"During the raid, liquor was recovered from Pori Moni's house, and the investigation will only focus on that issue," he added.

The police headquarters on Sunday formed a committee to investigate Golam Saklain's involvement with Pori Moni.