'It cannot happen in any civilised society,' says HC on Pori Moni's remand

 

Live Correspondent: The High Court (HC) has questioned the abuse of power by magistrate and police over placing actress Pori Moni on remand for three times in a case under the Narcotics Control Act.

"The investigative officer pleaded to you for placing her [Pori Moni] on remand without any evidence and you placed her on remand. It cannot happen in any civilised society. Remand is an exceptional matter," said a virtual bench comprising Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar said today during the hearing on a plea of Ain-o-Salish Kendra on Wednesday (Sept 1).

"It needs to be checked that what evidence the investigating officer presented with the remand pleas and the reasons why the court granted the remands," the HC bench said.

The court further said, "We will give a guideline on the time frame of hearing a bail plea after it is placed before a metropolitan court."

Pori Moni was shown arrested in a narcotics case a day after she was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on August 4. The lower court granted IO's pleas for three times to take Pori Moni on remand in the same case.

On August 19 last, Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate n(CMM) court rejected the bail plea of Pori Moni. She later pleaded for bail to Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court of Dhaka. The court in an order set September 13 for bail hearing.

After Pori Moni was produced before the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, Pori Moni begged her lawyers to submit another bail petition after the end of her third remand.

"Why doesn't anyone plea for my bail? I will lose my sanity, please plea for my bail," she begged.

On the following day, her lawyer submitted a prayer urging the court to hold an early hearing. Receiving no response, Pori Moni's lawyer filed a prayer with the High Court on August 25 challenging the legality of the August 22 order of Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court of Dhaka and seeking ad interim bail for the actress.

A HC bench issued a rule over the hearing on August 26. In the rule, the bench wanted to know why the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court's order fixing September 13 on bail hearing would not be declared invalid.

Besides, the HC bench wanted to know asking why a directive would not be issued to hold early hearing on bail within two days. The HC bench also set Wednesday (Sept 1) for hearing on its rule.

On Tuesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Kayes granted Pori Moni bail until the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) submits the investigation report in the case.

Pori Moni walked out of Kashimpur Jail on Wednesday morning, 27 days after her arrest by RAB.

Dhaka, 01 September (campuslive24.com)//BIT 

---

---