A Dhaka court has set September 29 for the hearing on charge framing against film actress Pori Moni and two others in a drug case filed with Banani Police Station.
The hearing was scheduled for Monday at the court of Judge Md Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-10. However, Pori Moni’s lawyer Nilanjana Rifat (Surabhi) sought an adjournment.
In her petition, the lawyer said Pori Moni could not appear in court as her child had developed a fever after receiving a vaccination. She also cited her child’s birthday as another reason for her absence.
The court granted the time petition and fixed September 29 for the next hearing, the lawyer said.
In 2021, Pori Moni made headlines after accusing a businessman of attempting to rape her. Days later, on August 4 that year, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raided her residence and said it had recovered alcohol and drugs. She was subsequently arrested and charged in a drug case. She was released after spending about a month in jail.
On October 4 that year, CID Inspector Kazi Golam Mostafa, the investigation officer in the case submitted a charge sheet against Pori Moni and two others.
On January 5, 2022, the court framed charges against the three accused and ordered the trial to begin. The other two accused are Pori Moni’s manager Ashraful Islam Dipu and her maternal uncle Kabir Hossain Howlader.
RAB-1 official Majibor Rahman, the complainant in the case, has already begun testifying before the court.
After the charges were framed, Pori Moni filed a petition with the High Court seeking the cancellation of the case. On March 1, 2022, the High Court issued a rule and stayed proceedings against her for three months.
The higher court later ordered that the charges be framed afresh in the case.