MANSA-PUNJAB: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday officially took over the investigation into the murder of 45-year-old anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota and re-registered the case. A team from the central agency, led by a senior DIG, arrived at the Mansa Police Station after issuing a formal letter to local police to initiate the handover process. CBI officers took over case records and seizures from the Punjab Police.
As part of the initial proceedings, the investigative team scheduled an examination of the deceased activist’s family at the Mansa Circuit House. Forensic experts, drug controllers, and technical specialists are arriving in Mansa shortly to assist in the multi-faceted probe.
In addition to taking over documents, the agency will seek the custody of accused chemist Ashwine Kumar and others involved in the case. The CBI aims to probe deeper into the illicit drug trade network and its connection to the murder, examining links between the crime and the open sale of banned psychotropic substances at chemist shops.
Jhota was shot dead on October 13, 2026, inside a chemist shop in Mansa while live-streaming on Facebook. He had confronted medical store owner Ashwani Kumar in a Mansa market over the alleged illegal sale of addictive drugs to an elderly person. Gunfire broke out during the confrontation, killing Jhota and injuring four others. The main accused, Ashwani Kumar, was later arrested in Salasar, Rajasthan.
The killing triggered widespread public outrage, leading to arson at the chemist shop and action against properties linked to the accused. Following demands from the victim’s family, action committees, and opposition parties – along with a visit by Union Home Minister Amit Shah – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann handed over the case to the CBI.
On October 20, Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with Jhota’s kin. The visit came amid a political debate over the drug crisis in Punjab, with the BJP accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to tackle the issue. Shah alleged that drug traffickers dealing in ‘chitta’ were flourishing under the AAP government’s protection.
Anti-Drug Activist Parvinder Singh ‘Jhota’ was Shot Dead in Mansa Market
Anti-drug campaigner Parvinder Singh, known as Jhota (Bull), was shot dead in a busy market in Mansa on Tuesday, October 13. Parvinder Singh, 42, was murdered by his pharmacy owner, Ashwani Kumar. Police say Jhota was livestreaming the incident on his mobile phone when he was shot. Jhota had previously confronted Kumar in 2023 over alleged illegal drug sales.
A former athlete who played cricket and boxing in his youth, Jhota became addicted to drugs during his college days in Jalandhar. He grew up in a supportive family. His father, Bhim Singh, is a retired Army veteran. The family supported themselves by farming and dairying on six to seven acres of land.
After turning his life around, Jhota became a vocal campaigner against the sale of illegal drugs. His friend, Inderjit Singh Munashi, explained that Jhota had transformed from battling drug addiction to making the anti-drug movement his life’s mission. Inderjit said that Jhota’s disillusionment with the political system led him to activism.
By mid-2023, Jhota had become a well-known face of the anti-drug movement in Mansa and surrounding districts. He frequently used social media livestreams to confront medical store owners and youth accused of selling banned drugs or heroin.
He built a large network of supporters in Mansa. Groups of young people would often gather at his home to participate in his work. His confrontational style and livestreamed activities earned him a large online following. He received support from the public, farmer organizations, and religious figures, including Giani Harpreet Singh, the then Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.
However, his methods led to frequent clashes with the police, who accused him of vigilantism, assault, and taking the law into his own hands. On July 12, 2023, Jhotha and his supporters allegedly raided a medical store, assaulted the owner, Ashwini Kumar, paraded him through the market wearing a garland of shoes, and handed him over to the police.
