The Punjab government has accepted all demands raised by the family of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’ and the Insaf Committee, according to the latest update in the case. The family and the committee will now decide when to proceed with the post-mortem and the last rites.
The development comes amid continued demands for justice following Jhota’s killing in Mansa. The decision on his post-mortem and cremation had remained pending as the family and supporters sought action from the government.
The latest agreement marks a key development in the matter, with the next decision regarding the post-mortem and funeral now resting with the family and the Insaf Committee.
In a related development, the Punjab Pharmacy Council has cancelled the registration of Ashwani Kumar, the chemist accused of shooting Jhota dead in broad daylight in Mansa.
The cancellation was approved by the council’s Executive Committee during a meeting held on October 20, 2026, at Education Bhawan in Mohali.
According to the order, Ashwani Kumar’s pharmacist registration, number 51464, has been cancelled under Section 36(1)(ii) of the Pharmacy Act, 1948. His name has been removed from the register of registered pharmacists with effect from October 20.
The licence cancellation comes nearly 10 days after the alleged shooting.
According to information shared by Drug Inspector Naresh Kumar of Mansa, Ashwani Kumar had been booked under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act in 2023 and was recently acquitted in that case. The chemist’s premises had reportedly been raided nearly 10 times over the past four years. His licence had also been suspended on three occasions but had not been cancelled earlier.
Police sources have stated that intoxicants were recovered from his shop on three occasions.
The case has also brought attention to the state’s action against violations involving medicines and chemist shops.
According to government data, the Drugs Wing of the Punjab Food and Drugs Administration conducted 16,788 inspections between April 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. These included joint inspections of chemist shops and unlicensed premises.
During the same period, the department suspended the licences of 520 chemists and cancelled those of 22 others for violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and related rules. Medicines worth Rs 20.64 crore were also seized from 214 licensed and unlicensed firms for alleged violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs Rules, 1945.