A public interest litigation filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought an HC-monitored CBI investigation into the murder of anti-drug activist Parminder Singh Jhota, along with independent inquiries into the drug and firearms licences linked to the main accused.
The petition was filed by Hukam Singh, a resident of Rania in Haryana’s Sirsa district. The case had not been heard by the court at the time of the report. The plea also seeks security for Jhota’s family and injured eyewitnesses, as well as measures to restore public order and ensure the free movement of residents following unrest after the killing.
According to the petition, Jhota, a former freestyle kabaddi player, had formed an “anti-drug task force” and used video recordings and live broadcasts on Facebook to expose the alleged illegal sale of intoxicants at medical stores. The petition alleges that he was killed after confronting the owner of a medical store in Mansa district, Punjab.
The plea claims that on October 13, Jhota saw a person leaving Ashwani Kumar’s medical store on Bathinda Road in Mansa after allegedly purchasing intoxicating capsules. Jhota allegedly recorded the interaction, questioned Kumar and called the police, but the police did not arrive immediately, according to the petition.
The petition further alleges that Kumar opened fire, killing Jhota and injuring four of his companions. It claims that police reached the site after a delay of around 20 to 25 minutes. Jhota was later taken to Civil Hospital, Mansa, where he was declared brought dead, the plea states.
A central issue raised by the petition is the grant and renewal of Kumar’s firearms licence despite his alleged criminal antecedents. The petitioner has sought an inquiry into the licensing process, stating that Kumar faced four criminal cases. The plea also requests an investigation into the grant and continuation of the drug licence of Kumar’s medical store in Mansa.
The demands place two administrative systems under scrutiny: the process through which firearms licences are issued and renewed, and the regulatory oversight of medical stores dealing with controlled or intoxicating substances. The petition seeks an examination of whether the relevant permissions were granted or continued despite the alleged criminal cases against the accused.
The plea has also asked the High Court to direct steps to protect the deceased activist’s family and those who witnessed the incident. It seeks action to maintain public order and prevent restrictions on the movement of the general public amid the unrest reported after the murder.
The High Court’s consideration of the petition, including the request for a CBI probe and independent licence inquiries, remains the next formal step in the case.
