Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe the murder case of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota.
According to news agency PTI, Mann said that the Punjab Police will hand over the probe to the CBI. Notably, an action committee has been formed, which has been seeking a CBI investigation.
The committee had submitted a memorandum to the government, reiterating that the protest will end and Jhota's body will be cremated only after the demands are fulfilled.
The family has demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is scheduled to visit Punjab on Tuesday, should order a CBI inquiry into the entire matter. The action committee has demanded that there should be an impartial investigation into the case to ascertain the real reasons behind the murder and identify the people involved in it.
The Central government on Friday sought a detailed report on the incident, actions taken so far, and the administrative steps initiated to maintain law and order.
Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, Under Secretary to the Government of India, wrote to Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police after Jhota was shot dead by a chemist on October 13.
In the letter, Jaiswal described Jhota as a person who raised his voice against drug abuse and the open sale of illegal medicines in Punjab.
Along with a report on his murder, the Centre also asked Punjab for an update on the "Narcotics Control Vision Document (2026-2029)."
Shared by Shah with Mann on August 10 this year, this plan outlines key steps needed to help achieve a drug-free India by 2029.
The Central government stated that the state government must detail its progress on setting up a dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and how is made financial investigations mandatory in drug cases. Additionally, the Centre stated that the report must cover efforts to strengthen NDPS courts, the appointment of nodal officers to speed up trials, and action against cross-border drug smuggling networks.