Arrest warrant issued against Pori Moni

A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against actress Pori Moni after framing charges in a case filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmood over alleged assault and death threats.

Dhaka's Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court issued the order today (26 January), Pori Moni's lawyer Nilanjana Rifat told Prothom Alo.

In the same case, the court also framed charges and issued an arrest warrant against Junaid Baghdadi Jimmy, the costume designer of the actress.

Nilanjana Rifat stated that today was scheduled for the indictment hearing in the case filed by Nasir.

On behalf of Pori Moni, she filed a petition seeking more time for the hearing, but the court rejected it and framed charges against the actress. As she was absent in court, the judge also ordered an arrest warrant against her, said the lawyer.

Earlier, on 18 April of last year, the CJM Court accepted the Police Bureau of Investigation's (PBI) probe report in the case, reports Prothom Alo.

At the same time, the court issued a summons for Pori Moni to appear before it.

On 18 July 2022, businessman Nasir filed a complaint with the Dhaka court, accusing Pori Moni and her associates of assault and attempted murder. 

In the case, he alleged that on 8 June 2021, Pori Moni and her associates entered Savar Boat Club and used the washroom. They later sat inside the club and consumed alcohol. Around 1:15am, as they were leaving the club, Pori Moni called out to him and pressured him to provide a bottle of Blue Label whiskey for free. When he refused, Pori Moni allegedly verbally abused him and threw a glass at him, hitting his head and chest.

After investigating the case, PBI submitted a report to the CJM Court last April, implicating Pori Moni and her costume designer Jimmy.

Police and court sources indicate that PBI found evidence supporting the allegations of assault against Nasir by Jimmy and that Nasir was injured by the glass Pori Moni allegedly threw.

On the other hand, on 8 June 2021, Pori Moni filed a case at Savar police station, accusing Nasir and five others of attempted rape and murder at the boat club in Savar's Birulia. 

Following an investigation, police submitted a charge sheet against Nasir and three others to the court on 6 September 2022. 

On 18 May 2022, Dhaka's Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-9 framed charges against the three accused. 

According to lawyer Nilanjana Rifat, this case is currently in the evidence stage.

Meanwhile, a narcotics case involving Pori Moni and two others is ongoing at Dhaka's Special Judge Court-10.