Jhota discharged, walks out of jail — 2nd time in 4 months that police withdrew case

A medical store owner had alleged Jhota of threatening him for ransom. Jhota was released from Muktsar jail after the court order reached there on Monday evening.

Parminder Singh, who earned the nickname “Jhota” (The Bull) on social media, gained popularity in recent months for his self-styled campaign against alleged drug smugglers, particularly targeting medical store owners in Mansa and surrounding areas. He accused them of illegally selling drugs to the youth.

On July 12, Jhota allegedly conducted a sting operation on a medical store owner in Mansa. During the operation, he purchased ‘signature’ capsules, which are prohibited under law in the area and are commonly used by addicts. Jhota, accompanied by 7-8 supporters, locked the medical store, confronted the owner, Ashwani Kumar, and allegedly assaulted him. They then paraded him with a garland of footwear around his neck through the main market in Mansa before taking him to the City police station.

An FIR was filed against Ashwani Kumar based on Jhota’s complaint, and he was released on bail the same night. However, the police took notice of the entire incident and filed FIRs against Parminder Singh Jhota and five others under Sections 355, 451, 323, 148, and 149 of IPC. Subsequently, Jhota was arrested from his residence, and the video of his arrest quickly went viral on social media.

These charges were bailable, but the police also arrested Jhota in an old case FIR number 93 in the month of May on the complaint of another medical store owner, charging him with snatching and extortion. Jhota came out of jail after spending two months inside.

The change of heart on the part of police came a week after the action committee running an indefinite dharna in Mansa for the release of Jhota had a meeting with officials from the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office.

“Manjit Sidhu, Officer on Special Duty with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, had come to Mansa. Police had assured us after a joint meeting that Jhota would be released, and no arrest would be made in any other case. We were expecting his release. It is a victory for the people,” said Advocate Lakhwinder Singh Lakhanpal.

It is the second time in the last four months that Mansa police has acquitted Jhota from a case. Earlier, police had registered a false case of attempted murder against Jhota in June after a man he accused of selling drugs was involved in an accident and got injured. A protest was launched outside the police station as soon as Jhota was arrested. Later, CCTV footage confirmed that the injuries to the man were caused due to the accident and were not linked to Jhota. As a result, the charges against him were withdrawn in court by the police.

The police had also registered a case against Jhota for outraging the modesty of a woman at the Maur police station of Mansa while Jhota was in jail. “Police have assured us that it will not pursue the case against Jhota as the woman has already given a statement in favour of Jhota,” said Jhota’s counsel Lakhanpal.

Jhota was released from Muktsar jail at approximately 8.30 pm on Monday. He received a warm welcome from his supporters. Addressing the media, he stated, “The drive against drugs will continue; it is just the beginning. People have become more aware, and now every household in Punjab has someone like Jhota fighting against drugs.”
He further said, “Harbhagwan Singh of Dhilwan Khurd village in Faridkot was tragically killed on August 5 while actively combating the drug issue. This fight against drugs is ongoing, and we have a long journey ahead to confront the suppliers.”

Regarding the murder of Jasvir Singh in Sidhana village of Bathinda district on Saturday, he said, “I am not aware of this incident, so can’t comment on it.”