The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case in the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab’s Mansa and taken over the investigation, officials said on Wednesday. The development comes amid ongoing protests by Jhota’s family and supporters, who have been demanding a CBI probe into the killing.
A five-member CBI team, reportedly from Delhi, reached Mansa on Tuesday night and collected records related to the case from the Mansa City-2 police station. The team arrived around midnight, hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Jhota’s family at their residence.
Mansa DSP (Headquarters) Pushpinder Singh confirmed that the CBI had taken up the investigation. He said FIR No. 269, registered at the Mansa City-2 police station, was related to the case and that the local police would cooperate with the central agency.
The post-mortem examination of Jhota’s body will be conducted at PGIMER, Chandigarh, by a team of experts. A magistrate will also conduct the inquest in Chandigarh, officials said.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Tuesday morning that the state government would hand over the murder investigation to the CBI. In a post on X, Mann said the decision had been taken in response to the family’s demand and reiterated the government’s support for Jhota’s family in its fight against drugs.
The announcement came hours before Shah’s visit to Punjab. During his meeting with the family on Tuesday, the Union Home Minister demanded justice for Jhota and reportedly asked the family to wait 24 hours for action. He also assured them that the investigation would be completed within 120 days.
Jhota was allegedly shot dead at a chemist shop in Mansa on October 13 following a confrontation over the alleged sale of banned drugs. The incident was streamed live on his Facebook page.
Police have arrested four accused in the case: chemist Ashwani Kumar, his wife Neelam Rani, his cousin Parveen Garg and an employee identified as Laddi. All four are currently on police remand. Police have also recovered the pistol allegedly used in the murder.
Inspector Beant Kaur, the Station House Officer of Mansa City-2 police station, has been suspended.
Four other people were injured in the firing and are undergoing treatment at different hospitals in Punjab.
The murder triggered widespread protests, with residents and activists demanding action against those allegedly involved in the drug trade and a thorough investigation into the killing.
Two protests have been continuing in Mansa since October 13. One is being held at Tinkoni, near the Deputy Commissioner’s residence on the Barnala-Sirsa Road, while the other is taking place at the Civil Hospital, where protesters are opposing any attempt by the administration or police to conduct Jhota’s cremation forcibly.
Punjab also witnessed a bandh on October 15 in connection with the murder.
The family has demanded an investigation into the alleged nexus between drug smugglers, police personnel and political representatives. Its demands also include the resignation of the Chief Minister and Punjab DGP, dismissal of two Station House Officers, a DSP and the Drug Inspector, and a fast-track trial with exemplary punishment for the accused.
Other demands include a statue of Jhota at the shop where he was shot, a trauma centre in his name at Khiala Kalan village, and government-funded treatment for the four injured people, along with compensation of ₹20 lakh for each.
With the CBI now handling the case, the investigation into Jhota’s killing has moved to the central agency.