Arrest Warrant Issued Against Actress Pori Moni

A Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against popular actress Pori Moni for failing to appear before it in an attempted murder case filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Mahfuzur Rahman passed the order on Wednesday (November 4).

Pori Moni's lawyer, Nilanjana Surabhi, confirmed the development to Prothom Alo. She said the actress could not appear in court due to an allergy-related illness and that the defence had sought an adjournment to fix another date for the hearing.

However, the court rejected the petition and ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.

According to sources at the court, the plaintiff appeared on Wednesday and sought cancellation of bail for the accused. No lawyer representing the accused was present during the hearing. After hearing the matter, the court cancelled the accused's bail and ordered the issuance of arrest warrants.

In her time petition, Pori Moni's lawyer, Nilanjana Rifat, stated that the case had been scheduled for witness testimony on the day. She said the accused actress was unable to attend court because of an allergy-related illness and requested additional time, arguing that her absence could otherwise cause her irreparable harm.

Background of the case

Businessman Nasir Uddin filed the case at a Dhaka court on July 6, 2022.

According to the complaint, Pori Moni and her associates consume alcohol and visit various renowned clubs when opportunities arise, where they drink and take away bottles without paying. The complaint further alleged that Pori Moni threatened to harass people through false cases using her connections with police officials.

The complaint stated that after midnight on June 9, 2021, Pori Moni and the other accused entered the Savar Boat Club and used a washroom on the second floor.

They later sat inside the club and consumed alcohol. At around 1:15am, when Nasir Uddin and his associate Shah Shahidul Alam were preparing to leave, Pori Moni allegedly called Nasir and asked him to sit with them for some time.

At one point, according to the complaint, Pori Moni allegedly attempted to attract Nasir through obscene gestures and pressured him to provide a bottle of Blue Label alcohol free of charge. When he refused, she allegedly verbally abused him.

The complaint further alleged that during an argument between Nasir and the accused, Pori Moni threw a serving glass at him and also hurled the mobile phone she was holding. Nasir reportedly sustained injuries to his head and chest. The complaint also accused Pori Moni and her associates of assaulting Nasir, threatening to kill him and vandalising property.

Investigation and charges

On March 18, 2024, the investigation officer, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Dhaka District Inspector Md Monir Hossain, submitted a report to the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.

The report found evidence supporting allegations of assault and intimidation against Pori Moni and her costume designer, Junaid Baghdadi Jimi, also known as Jim. However, the investigation did not find evidence supporting the allegations against another accused, Fatema Tuz Jannat Boni.

On January 26 last year, the same court ordered the framing of charges against the two accused and directed that the trial begin.

Pori Moni's counter-case

Meanwhile, over the same incident, Pori Moni filed a case at Savar Police Station against the plaintiff and another person, accusing them of attempted rape and attempted murder.

That case is currently under trial at Dhaka's Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal No. 9.