Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday, 20 October announced that a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team would arrive at the residence of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa, Punjab by 12 noon on Wednesday to begin a formal investigation into his alleged murder. Shah made the announcement while meeting Jhota's family during a day-long visit to the state, assuring them that justice would be delivered.

Shah Meets Three Families Across Punjab

The Home Minister's day-long Punjab itinerary covered three districts and three bereaved families linked to the state's worsening drug crisis. Shah landed at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar in the morning, then travelled to Gurdaspur, Sangrur, and finally Mansa.

In Mari Pannu village, Gurdaspur district, Shah met the family of Vikramjit Singh, who was allegedly murdered by the drug mafia in recent days. The meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes, after which the family submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister. In Toor Banjara village, Sangrur district, Shah met the family of Gulzar Singh, who was allegedly driven to suicide after raising his voice against those involved in the chitta (narcotic drugs) trade.

The meeting with Jhota's father, Bhim Singh, and other family members in Mansa lasted around 20 minutes. State BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon, former state presidents Ashwani Sharma and Sunil Jakhar, along with Vijay Sampla and Fatehjang Bajwa, were also present. Shah assured the family that the Central government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stood firmly with them and that a decisive battle would be waged against drugs.

Political Context: Shah's Second Punjab Visit in 20 Days

This was Shah's second visit to Punjab in 20 days, underscoring the BJP's intensifying focus on the state's drug crisis ahead of what analysts see as a prolonged political contest with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). During the visit, Shah used social media to allege that the drug trade in Punjab had spiralled out of control under the current state government — remarks that drew a sharp counter-response from the ruling dispensation.

Notably, ahead of Shah's arrival, the AAP government had itself announced it would hand over the Jhota case to the CBI, citing the family's demand — making Shah's announcement, in part, a political convergence on a high-profile case.

AAP Government Hits Back at Centre

State Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema launched a pointed counter-attack, questioning why the Central government had failed to act against pharmaceutical drug manufacturers operating in BJP- and Congress-ruled states despite repeated appeals from Punjab. Cheema argued that while Punjab was fighting the drug menace on the ground, the Centre was shielding the supply chain at its source.

'The main sources of synthetic and pharmaceutical drugs flooding Punjab are in states governed by the BJP and Congress, yet the Central government has failed to take decisive action against those manufacturing and supplying these substances. Punjab is fighting this menace on the ground, but the Centre is turning a blind eye to a serious threat to the lives of our youth,' Cheema said.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government reiterated that it would pursue the fight against drugs with full force and would not allow 'political considerations or administrative obstacles' to weaken its resolve.

What Happens Next

The CBI team is expected to formally begin its investigation into the Jhota murder case by Wednesday afternoon. Shah concluded his Punjab engagements in Ludhiana, where he was scheduled to light a 121-foot effigy of Ravana — reportedly the tallest in the state. The CBI's involvement will be closely watched as a test of whether the Centre's promised intervention translates into accountability on the ground.