Pori Moni’s Bodyguards Accused of Assaulting Court Visitor, Leaving Him with Head Injury

Dhallywood actress Pori Moni has become embroiled in another controversy after surrendering before a court and securing bail. Her personal bodyguards have been accused of assaulting a court visitor and injuring his head. They have also been accused of assaulting journalists, confiscating their mobile phones and preventing them from entering the courtroom.

The incidents allegedly took place on Thursday (November 5) on the premises of the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, according to those affected.

A court visitor named Sujan Chandra alleged that he was injured in an attack by the actress’s bodyguards. He had come to court with his elder brother in connection with a family land dispute case. According to Sujan’s brother, two of Pori Moni’s bodyguards suddenly pushed them while they were standing in front of the court. At one point, Sujan was struck on the head, causing it to bleed. People present at the scene advised him to seek treatment at a hospital.

Tensions also arose inside the courtroom over the conduct of Pori Moni’s bodyguards. They were accused of preventing not only journalists but also several lawyers from entering the courtroom. Journalists and lawyers present protested against the alleged obstruction. The actress’s bail hearing proceeded amid overcrowding and commotion.

The situation reportedly became more tense on the ground floor of the court building after the hearing. The bodyguards were accused of assaulting several journalists and taking away their mobile phones. The journalists later got their phones back.

Meanwhile, as Pori Moni was getting into her car, she accused a man of touching her inappropriately. The actress became involved in an argument with him. The man denied the allegation, saying he had only been recording a video. Pori Moni eventually got into her car and left the court premises.

Commenting on the incident, the actress’s lawyer, Nilanjana Rifat, said she had not personally witnessed any mistreatment or assault involving journalists. However, she described any such incident, if it had occurred, as undesirable.

The lawyer also raised questions about security arrangements at the court, saying that a more effective police presence could have helped prevent the situation.

Earlier, Pori Moni arrived at the court around 9:30 am in a white private car. She was accompanied by 11 bodyguards dressed in black. After remaining inside the car for some time, she entered the court building at 11:40 am.

The actress initially appeared confused while trying to locate the courtroom scheduled to hear her case. She first entered the wrong courtroom before being directed to another by a legal assistant. When the hearing did not take place there either, she eventually reached the designated courtroom one floor below. She arrived at 11:55 am and sat on a rear bench.

Pori Moni surrendered before the court after an arrest warrant was issued against her the previous day in a case filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud over allegations of assault, vandalism and intimidation. Her lawyer told the court that the actress had been unable to appear the previous day because of illness. After the hearing, Judicial Magistrate Mahfuzur Rahman granted her bail on a bond of Tk 500.

The case was filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud against Pori Moni on July 6, 2022. According to the allegations in the case, during an altercation at Dhaka Boat Club in June 2021, the actress threw a glass and a mobile phone at Nasir. She was also accused of threatening him.

In a separate case related to the same incident, Pori Moni had earlier filed allegations of attempted rape and attempted murder against Nasir Uddin Mahmud and several others.

An arrest warrant had previously been issued against Pori Moni in Nasir’s case after she failed to appear in court. She surrendered the following day and secured bail on that occasion as well. This time, too, she was granted bail the day after the warrant was issued. However, the multiple allegations against her bodyguards at the court premises have sparked fresh controversy.