The High Court yesterday refused to grant arrested actor Pori Moni bail in a narcotics case.

The court also issued a rule questioning a lower court order setting September 13 to hear her bail application in the case.

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In the rule, it asked respondents to explain by September 1 why the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court should not be directed to hear and dispose of Pori Moni’s bail application within two days.

The court also asked respondents to show cause why the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court’s order of setting September 13, which would be 21 days after submission and acceptance of the application, for the bail hearing, should not be scrapped.

The state and Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court have been made respondents to the rule.

The HC also fixed September 1 for hearing on the rule.

The bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajol issued the rule following a criminal revision petition filed by Pori Moni, challenging the lower court’s order that set September 13 for hearing of her bail application.

Lawyer Mozibur Rahman submitted the petition with the HC on behalf of Pori Moni on August 25, saying that the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court has adjourned hearing of her bail application for a long time, which is illegal.

In the petition, Pori Moni also sought bail from the HC in the case.

Lawyers ZI Khan Panna and Mozibur Rahman appeared for Pori Moni, while Deputy Attorney General Yahiya Dulal and Assistant Attorney General Md Mizanur Rahman represented the state during the virtual hearing of the criminal revision petition.

On August 22, Pori Moni filed a bail petition with a Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court challenging the lower court’s rejection of bail in the case filed under the Narcotics Control Act.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh fixed September 13 for hearing on the bail petition, said her lawyer Mozibur Rahman.

On August 5, Pori Moni and her associate Ashraful Islam Dipu were shown arrested in the case filed by the Rapid Action Battalion under the Narcotics Control Act.

The previous day, members of the elite force detained them after raiding her houses. They seized foreign liquor and narcotics from her residence.