Parminder Singh Jhota, a vocal anti‑drug activist, was shot dead on October 13 inside a pharmacy in Mansa’s market. The shooter, store owner Ashwani Kumar, was apprehended in Rajasthan, and the family has refused cremation until justice is served.
On Tuesday, Bhagwant Mann posted on X that the Punjab government would hand the case to the CBI, saying it was responding to the family’s demand. He added, "Our fight against drug dealers is absolute. We will not step back from taking whatever tough steps are required to make Punjab drug‑free."
BJP’s Ravneet Singh Bittu blasted the move as a capitulation to public pressure, claiming the state had been forced to hand over the case overnight to smooth the way for Home Minister Amit Shah’s upcoming visit. Congress president Pargat Singh leveled accusations at the BJP, saying the drug trade had expanded under the party’s rule in Gujarat and at the centre, and that Punjab’s youth were being pushed into the crisis.
The CBI will now launch its probe, with the first hearing scheduled for early next month. The investigation will be closely watched by Jhota’s family, the opposition, and the public as Punjab braces for a high‑profile Home Minister visit amid a heated drug‑policy debate.