The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has formally taken over the investigation into the killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota, the anti-drug activist who was shot dead inside a medical store in Mansa, Punjab, on October 13. The agency registered an FIR on Wednesday, October 21, and a special team led by a senior Deputy Inspector General has reached Mansa to take charge of the case records.
The move comes a day after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the state would hand the case to the CBI, accepting the main demand of Jhota's family, who had said they had no faith in a state-level probe.
What Happened in Mansa
Jhota was known locally for campaigning against the sale of addictive medicines at chemist shops. On October 13, he walked into a medical store in a busy Mansa market and questioned the owner about allegedly selling drugs to an elderly man. The confrontation was being streamed on his Facebook Live when the store owner allegedly opened fire, killing him in broad daylight.
Police have identified the accused as the shop owner, Ashwani Kumar. He was taken into custody from Salasar in Rajasthan after the shooting.
What the CBI Team Is Doing
According to reports, the CBI team has taken over records and seizures from the Mansa police station and has asked the state police for related documents. Drug control officials, forensic experts and GST specialists are part of the team, which suggests the agency will look beyond the shooting itself and examine the business and supply side of the pharmacy.
That wider lens matters. Activists in Punjab have long alleged that some chemist shops sell habit-forming medicines without prescriptions, and investigators are expected to look at stock records and purchase trails as part of the case.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Victim | Parvinder Singh Jhota, anti-drug activist |
| Date of killing | October 13, 2026 |
| Place | Medical store in a market in Mansa, Punjab |
| Accused | Store owner Ashwani Kumar, held in Salasar, Rajasthan |
| CBI probe announced | October 20, by CM Bhagwant Mann |
| CBI FIR registered | October 21, 2026 |
| Team | Led by a senior DIG, with drug control, forensic and GST experts |
Family's Stand and Political Heat
Jhota's family and supporters have refused to hold his last rites until they see justice, and a week after the shooting the post-mortem and cremation had still not taken place. The Punjab government had first set up its own committee, but the family pressed for a central agency.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah met the family on Tuesday during a visit to Punjab and assured them of justice. His office had earlier said it would seek a report on the killing. The BJP has sharpened its attack on the AAP government over the drug problem, an issue that is expected to dominate the run-up to the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Chief Minister Mann, for his part, has pledged an all-out fight against drug peddlers.
Why This Case Matters Beyond Punjab
The killing has struck a nerve because Jhota was doing what many citizens are urged to do: speak up against drug sales in their neighbourhood. That he was shot while live-streaming the confrontation has raised hard questions about the safety of activists and whistleblowers who take on local drug networks.
It also lands at a moment when the Centre is pushing a nationwide drug-free campaign. On Police Commemoration Day, Shah urged police forces across the country to work together to rid India of narcotics by 2029.
How a Central Agency Changes the Probe
A CBI investigation brings a few practical differences. The agency works independently of the state police, which is why families in sensitive cases often ask for it. It can also pull in specialists from other departments and follow leads across state lines, which may be relevant here since the accused was traced to Rajasthan. On the other hand, a transfer usually means investigators re-examine evidence from the start, so the final charge sheet may take some time.
What Happens Next
The CBI is expected to record statements, re-examine the forensic evidence and seek custody of the accused for questioning. The agency may also scrutinise the store's licence, stock registers and supply chain. Whether the family agrees to the last rites now that the probe has changed hands will be watched closely in Mansa over the coming days.
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