Pori Moni assaults journalist while appearing in court in assault case
Actress Pori Moni has been accused of assaulting and verbally abusing a multimedia journalist from daily Samakal at the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday, following her appearance in court in an assault and vandalism case.
The journalist, identified as Robiul Hossain Raju, alleged that the actress snatched his mobile phone, broke his tripod and repeatedly used abusive language against him while accusing him of touching her inappropriately.
According to Raju, Pori Moni repeatedly shouted at him, saying, “You touched my body, motherf****r,” while her security guards also accused the journalist of touching the actress.
She also allegedly threatened him, saying, “I will beat a swine like you to death, motherf****r.”
A video that has gone viral on Facebook shows Pori Moni confronting the journalist in the middle of a crowd, repeatedly hurling F-word expletives at him and accusing him of touching her inappropriately..
Speaking to Daily Waadaa, Raju denied touching the actress and said, “Why would I touch her? She was the one who laid hands on me and hurled obscene abuses at me.”
He said journalists and artists generally maintain cordial relations, adding that Pori Moni should understand how an artist is expected to behave.
Recounting the incident, Raju said the actress was walking towards the court building when he attempted to photograph her. At that point, she allegedly snatched his mobile phone and broke the tripod he was carrying. He later managed to retrieve his phone from her.
Raju further alleged that after the court proceedings ended and Pori Moni came downstairs, she and her security guards attacked him again. The actress allegedly continued to verbally abuse him and accused him of touching her.
The journalist also claimed that CCTV footage from the court premises and videos and photographs captured by other journalists recorded the actress's alleged behaviour.
Raju said he was prepared to take legal action over the incident but was waiting for instructions from his employer, daily Samakal.
Earlier on Thursday, Pori Moni surrendered before the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court and secured bail in a case filed by businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud over allegations of assault, vandalism and intimidation.
The court had issued an arrest warrant against the actress on Wednesday after she failed to appear for a scheduled hearing on the recording of witness testimony. Her lawyer had sought an adjournment, citing an allergy-related illness that prevented her from attending court.
The case dates back to an alleged altercation at Savar's Boat Club on the night of June 9, 2021. Nasir Uddin accused Pori Moni and her associates of verbally abusing and assaulting him, damaging property and threatening him with death.