A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh, popularly known as Jhota, in Mansa, Punjab. The petition also seeks scrutiny of the accused chemist’s licences and the police response to the incident.
According to the petition, Jhota, a former freestyle kabaddi player, operated an “Anti-Drug Task Force” and used Facebook Live to highlight alleged illegal sales of intoxicating medicines. In July 2023, he had complained against chemist Ashwini Kumar over the alleged sale of banned intoxicating capsules.
The petition states that on October 13, 2026, Jhota confronted the chemist after allegedly spotting a customer leaving the shop with intoxicating capsules. He began recording the incident and called the police. The petition alleges that the accused opened fire during the confrontation and that police took around 20 to 25 minutes to arrive.
An FIR was registered on October 14 at City-2 Police Station, Mansa, under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act.
The petitioner, Hukam Singh, has sought transfer of the investigation to the CBI, independent inquiries into the drug and arms licences, and scrutiny of the alleged police delay and failure to provide timely medical assistance.
The petition invokes Articles 14, 19(1)(d) and 21 of the Constitution. The allegations remain subject to judicial consideration.
