CBI Takes Over Jhota Probe; Stalemate Over Cremation, Police Surrounds Mansa

October

2026

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the probe into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. The CBI registered a fresh First Information Report on 21 Oct and visited Jhota’s residence in Mansa to record his family’s statements. The development came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah met Jhota’s family and criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government over the state’s drug crisis. Panjab Finance Minister clarified that though the CBI does not have 'general consent' to probe cases in Panjab, its involvement in the Jhota murder is a 'specific case'. On 6 Nov 2020, when the Indian National Congress was ruling Panjab, the state had revoked the 'general consent' to the CBI under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, asking the agency to seek prior consent from the state government on a case-by-case basis. The Panjab government has also suspended Mansa Deputy Superintendent of Police Harjinder Singh Gill and Drug Inspector Naresh Kumar for inaction against the illegal sale of pharmaceutical drugs. The Punjab Pharmacy Council has canceled the license of pharmacist Ashwani Kumar, who shot Jhota. Jhota's widow, Manpreet Kaur, has questioned the demolition of pharmacist Kumar's shop, saying, 'It could have been crucial evidence in the case.' Jhota’s family has still not cremated his body. After meeting the Panjab government panel on 23 Oct, Jhota's family and the Jhota Action Committee announced that they would not allow a post-mortem examination until their key demands, including the resignations of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, were met. Their other demands are: a post-mortem examination by a team of senior doctors from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh; security for the family; the installation of a statue of Jhota in Mansa; action against medical stores found violating the rules; and a debate on drugs in the Assembly. Meanwhile, on 27 Oct, 35-year-old Dajit Singh from Bhamme Kalan village, Mansa district, died of drug overdose. When Jhota's father Bhim Singh went to bring the man’s body to where Jhota's family and supporters were sitting on vigil, the police intervened and forcibly took away the body. Police have surrounded Mansa to prevent more supporters from gathering and are arresting activists (earlier coverage).