Pori Moni’s remand: HC disappointed with 2 judges’ explanation

The High Court today expressed disappointment over the explanation of two lower court judges, who placed actress Pori Moni on remand for the second and third time in a narcotics case, saying that the judges had "undermined" the court.

"The metropolitan magistrates (lower court judges) in their explanation said they granted the prayers for remands (of Pori Moni), considering the whole situation. They requested for pardon if they have made any unintended mistake or fault in passing the remand orders," the High Court said.

The HC said it seems, from their explanation, that they have not done any wrong. "They have undermined us by giving such explanation," the HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajol said.

The HC bench fixed September 29 for passing order on this issue.

Investigation officer of the case, Golam Mostafa, will have to give an explanation on seeking remand of Pori Moni to the court by this time, and he will have to appear before the court on September 29, Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam said.

The HC bench delivered the order during hearing a petition filed by rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) -- challenging the orders of Metropolitan Magistrate Devobrata Biswas and Atikul Islam granting the IO's prayers for taking Pori Moni on remands.

ASK's lawyer ZI Khan Panna told the HC bench that Metropolitan Magistrates Devobrata Biswas and Atikul Islam have undermined both the Appellate Division and High Court Divisions by their explanations, as they did not directly confess their "fault" in placing Pori Moni on remands.

The two magistrates offered apology in two separate written explanations which were recently submitted to the HC through the Supreme Court registrar general's office.

They have said in the written explanations that they have ordered the police to execute the remand of Pori Moni in presence of a female police officer under the SC directives.

The metropolitan magistrates also prayed to the HC bench to exonerate them from any proceedings, saying that they will remain more cautious during passing remand orders in future.