Chandigarh, October 21: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case in connection with the alleged murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab’s Mansa district and formally taken over the investigation, officials said on Wednesday.
A special team of CBI officials has reached Mansa to investigate the circumstances surrounding the killing and examine all possible angles. The team, comprising senior officials and experts from forensic science, drug control and GST departments, arrived in the district on Tuesday night.
According to officials, the CBI team has submitted a formal requisition to the local police seeking the transfer of relevant documents and records related to the case as part of the investigation.
The family of the deceased was scheduled to meet the CBI team, led by a senior Deputy Inspector General (DIG), at the Mansa Circuit House at 11:30 am on Wednesday. The officials are expected to record the family members’ statements and gather information that could assist the investigation.
Punjab Government Hands Over Case to CBI
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced on Tuesday that the case would be transferred to the CBI following a demand by Jhota’s family for an independent investigation.
In a message posted on social media platform X in Punjabi, Mann expressed solidarity with the bereaved family and reiterated the state government’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking and the illegal sale of addictive substances.
The Chief Minister said the government had accepted the family’s demand for a CBI investigation and maintained that strict measures would continue against drug peddlers as part of efforts to make Punjab drug-free.
Activist Shot Dead Inside Medical Store
Parvinder Singh Jhota was known for raising his voice against the alleged illegal sale of addictive substances through chemist shops. He was shot dead on October 13 inside a medical store situated in a busy marketplace in Mansa.
According to the reported circumstances of the incident, the activist was questioning the alleged sale of drugs to an elderly man when the medical store owner, identified as Ashwani Kumar, allegedly opened fire on him.
Jhota was reportedly hosting a Facebook Live session when the incident occurred, bringing the killing into public attention and triggering widespread concern.
The accused was subsequently taken into custody from Salasar in Rajasthan, officials said.
Family Refuses Last Rites, Seeks Justice
The killing has triggered demands for accountability, with the deceased’s family and supporters insisting on a CBI investigation.
According to reports, even seven days after the incident, the post-mortem examination and cremation had not taken place, as family members and supporters continued to withhold permission for the last rites pending justice.
The transfer of the case to the central agency is expected to pave the way for a detailed examination of the circumstances surrounding the killing, the alleged motive and other relevant evidence.
The CBI team is expected to examine documentary records, forensic material and statements of witnesses as part of the investigation.
The investigation remains underway, and the allegations against the accused will be subject to the legal process.
