Considering her health, age and reputation in film industry, a Dhaka court today granted ad-interim bail to film actress Pori Moni, in a case filed against her with Banani Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act.
Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court of Dhaka issued the bail order upon a bond of Tk 50,000 with two guarantors after a long hearing.
There is no legal bar to her release, said her lawyer Mojibur Rahman. The bail order will be valid until submission of the police report, the judge said in his order, adding that the prosecution had no strong grounds to turn down the bail plea.
During the hearing, defence told the court that Pori Moni was not produced before the court within 24 hours of her arrest, the stipulated time mentioned in the law.
She was placed on a seven-day remand in three phases which was in violation of the law. Moreover, Rab did not find the narcotics on her; those were seized from her home, it said.
Pori Moni had signed a number of films which she could not complete due to her jail custody. Moreover, she has been suffering from vertigo.
She will not tamper with the investigation and will not flee if she gets bail, defence added.
Opposing the bail petition, Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu said Pori Moni had committee a serious offence by possessing narcotics at her residence.
On August 22, Pori Moni filed a bail petition with a Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court, challenging the lower court’s rejection of bail in the case.
Pori Moni and her associate Ashraful Islam Dipu were shown arrested on August 5 in the case filed by the Rapid Action Battalion with Banani Police Station.
The previous day, members of the elite force detained them. They seized alcohol and narcotics from Pori Moni’s residence.
-With The Daily Star input
