Mann Hands Jhota Murder Case to CBI, Acceding to Family's Demandਮਾਨ ਨੇ ਝੋਟਾ ਕਤਲ ਕੇਸ ਸੀਬੀਆਈ ਨੂੰ ਸੌਂਪਿਆ, ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਮੰਨੀ

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Tuesday that the investigation into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The announcement, made in a post on X on October 20, accepts the central demand of Jhota's family and the action committee supporting them, who have refused to cremate his body until a federal probe was ordered. Mann said the state government stands firmly with Jhota's father and family.

What did the Chief Minister say?

In his post, Mann wrote: 'We stand firmly at all times with the father and family of Parminder Singh Jhota, who is fighting against drugs. Acceding to the family's demand, we are handing over this case to the CBI.' He added that the government's fight against drug peddlers is decisive and that whatever strict steps are required to make Punjab drug-free, his government will not back down. ANI reported the announcement on Tuesday morning, and the decision was also reported by Mirror Now, Punjab Newsline and PTI.

Why was a CBI probe being demanded?

Jhota, a Mansa activist known for live-streaming his confrontations with alleged drug sellers, was shot dead on October 13 inside a medical store in a busy Mansa market. Police say the store owner, Ashwani Kumar, shot him after Jhota questioned the sale of addictive medicines to an elderly customer, and Kumar was later arrested from Salasar in Rajasthan. Jhota's father Bhim Singh criticised the state administration for failing to prevent the attack and demanded a CBI investigation, a call backed by farmer and worker organisations, a statewide bandh on October 15, and political parties across the spectrum. The family has held a protest in Mansa and said the cremation would follow only once its demands were met.

Why the timing matters

The announcement came hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Punjab on Tuesday, during which he is scheduled to meet Jhota's family in Mansa, as well as the families of Bikramjit Singh in Gurdaspur and Gulzar Singh in Sangrur, before attending a Dussehra event in Ludhiana where an effigy billed as the Ravan of chitta will be burnt. The Centre had earlier sought a detailed report from the Punjab government on the killing and on its anti-drug action. An action committee backing the family had also demanded that Shah order a CBI inquiry during his visit. By moving first, the state government has taken the decision itself rather than waiting for the Centre's intervention.

What happens next will depend on the formal handover: the Punjab Police investigation, the arrested accused and the evidence gathered so far will pass to the CBI, which will register its own case and investigate the killing and the wider allegations around it. Jugti will update this story when the handover is formally notified and when the family responds on the cremation and the protest.

Who announced the CBI transfer in the Jhota case?

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced it himself in a post on X on Tuesday, October 20, saying the government was acceding to the family's demand.

What had Jhota's family demanded?

A CBI investigation into the October 13 Mansa killing. The family and the action committee backing them had refused to cremate Jhota's body until the demand was met.

Who is the accused in the case?

Police arrested medical store owner Ashwani Kumar from Salasar in Rajasthan. He is an accused in custody, not a convicted person, and the allegations against him will be tested in court.