A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team arrives to investigate the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, in Mansa, Punjab, on October 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI Even as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case into the alleged murder of anti-drug crusader Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab’s Mansa, his family members and Opposition parties on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation.The BJP’s Punjab unit supported the demand surrounding the CM’s resignation, asserting that Punjab government should transfer the cases surrounding Gulzar Singh and Bikramjit Singh, who lost their lives in incidents related to the drug menace, to the CBI, following the same course of action as in the Jhota case.Also read: Parvinder Singh Jhota: Who was the anti-drug activist, why was he killedPunjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has kept his promise, with the CBI launching its investigation into Jhota’s case last night. “Punjab government should transfer the Gulzar Singh and Bikramjit Singh cases to the CBI as an independent investigations would help ensure justice for the families concerned,” he added.Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, Congress’s Partap Singh Bajwa said the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home portfolio, has completely failed to maintain law and order. He said that that in the Assembly session, slated to begin tomorrow (October 22), the Congress party will firmly demand Mr.

Mann’s resignation over the broad daylight murder of Mr. Jhota.CBI officials on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) said that the agency has taken over the probe into the murder Mr.

Jhota. This comes a day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said his government will be handing over the case as per the family’s demand.

The CBI team reached Mansa police station on Tuesday night (October 20, 2026) to take over records and seizures. A formal letter in this regard was issued to the police, officials said.

Forensic experts, drug controllers and other experts also reached Mansa, according to the CBI.Jhota’s post-mortem is slated to be done at Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh by a team of experts, the CBI said. Inquest proceedings to determine the cause of death will then be carried out by a Magistrate in Chandigarh.

However, Johta’s family and the Insaf Committee set up to secure justice for Jhota, has refused to cremate the body until their demands were met.Punjab government had set up a three-member team of IPS officers surrounding the case. One of the member Apneet Riyait told media persons that a meeting was held between the administration, the Committee members, along with the family, in which a demand letter consisting of 14 points was discussed. “After due consideration by the government on those points, the decisions that were taken have been communicated to the Committee.

The committee has stated that regarding whatever consensus is formed on their part, they will discuss it within their meeting and come back to us.” She added “Whatever demands they had placed, such as the CBI inquiry, on which action has already been taken and other demands as well, the major demands that were there, action has been initiated by the government on all of them.”Jhota was shot dead on October 13 at a local medical store in Mansa, sparking public outrage in the State. Published - October 21, 2026 11:02 am IST