Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has transferred the murder case of activist Parvinder Singh Jhota to the CBI following intense protests. The activist was killed in Mansa on October 13 while filming illegal drug sales at a chemist shop. The move aims to address public demands for a federal investigation into the crime.
The Punjab government has handed over the investigation into the death of activist Parvinder Singh Jhota to the Central Bureau of Investigation. This decision follows a week of protests in Mansa, during which the victim's family and local support groups refused to conduct the final rites until a federal inquiry was announced.
The case stems from a shooting on October 13. Jhota, who was known for his efforts to highlight the sale of illegal substances at local medical stores, was killed while broadcasting a video on social media. During the broadcast, he was seen confronting a store owner, identified as Ashwani Kumar. Law enforcement authorities subsequently arrested the suspect in Salasar, Rajasthan.
The decision to shift the investigation to a federal agency highlights the significant public and political pressure surrounding the case. Transferring such investigations is typically done to ensure a more independent process and to restore confidence in the administrative handling of law and order matters. This is especially relevant in the current context, where activists and local organizations have been seeking greater accountability for the monitoring of pharmacies and the prevention of illegal drug distribution.
For the state administration, this move is a step toward managing the tensions that had built up in the district. The protest, led by a joint action committee, had centered on calls for both a central probe and the addressing of systemic issues within local law enforcement. As the CBI takes charge, the progression of this investigation will be monitored, particularly regarding how it addresses the specific allegations of illegal sales that the activist had raised prior to his death.