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CBI Assumes Investigation into Murder of Anti-Drug Activist Parvinder Singh Jhota

What happened

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, who was shot dead in Mansa, Punjab, on October 13, 2026.

A special CBI team, including forensic experts, drug controllers, and GST officials, has arrived in the state and requested police documentation to examine the case.

Prior to the CBI intervention, Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal had publicly demanded a federal probe into the killing.

Why it matters

The transition of the case to the CBI follows intense political pressure and protests from the victim's family, who had refused to cremate his body until their demands for an independent investigation and official resignations were met.

Context

Parvinder Singh Jhota was a known anti-drug activist and Kabaddi player from Mansa, a city in the southernmost part of Punjab.

Kewal Singh Dhillon, a member of the BJP, had previously alleged that a medical store owner was responsible for the murder and called for the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, citing concerns over the state's law and order.

Sources 7 sources

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