India News Live Updates, 21 October 2026: CBI takes over probe into Punjab anti-drug activist Jhota’s murder

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case and taken over the investigation into the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Punjab's Mansa district, officials announced on Wednesday. CBI officials have already arrived in Punjab to probe all aspects of the killing. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann declared on Tuesday that the CBI would be handling the investigation.

Jhota's father and family welcomed the decision, accepting the demand for a CBI probe. The activist, known for his vocal opposition to the illegal sale of drugs in chemist shops, was shot dead in broad daylight inside a medical store in Mansa on October 13 while he was livestreaming on Facebook. The alleged gunman, store owner Ashwani Kumar, was arrested in Rajasthan's Salasar.

The murder has sparked political controversy in Punjab, which is set to hold elections early next year. Jhota's family and supporters have been demanding justice, delaying his post-mortem and cremation until they receive it.