CBI Takes Over Jhota Murder Investigation

The Central Bureau of Investigation has taken over the murder investigation into Parvinder Singh Jhota, registering a case after Punjab agreed to transfer the probe following his family’s demand. The agency said it had begun investigating, with its team collecting records and evidence in Mansa. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced the transfer on October 20. A CBI team arrived in Mansa late that day and sought documents and other material from local police, according to officials. The case had been registered at Mansa City-2 police station. Jhota, an anti-drug activist, was shot inside a medical store in Mansa on October 13. Reports say he was livestreaming a confrontation with the store owner, Ashwani Kumar, whom he had accused of selling addictive drugs. Kumar was arrested in Rajasthan on October 14, according to reports. The investigation’s findings have not been reported. The CBI’s inquiry will examine the circumstances of the killing and evidence gathered by Punjab Police. Agency officials also said the probe would cover alleged illegal sales of habit-forming and psychotropic medicines in the region. That wider allegation is part of the stated investigative...