Madhya Pradesh cop suspended for land deal to help murder accused walk free

The family of the murder accused alleged that Katni police superintendent Neha Pachisia pressured them to sell 2.15 hectares of land in exchange for relief

Updated on: Aug 21, 2026, 17:18:37 IST

By Shruti Tomar, Monika Pandey

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Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav on Friday ordered the suspension of a police superintendent for allegedly striking a land deal with the family of a murder accused in exchange for his release.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav has ordered the suspension of the police officer (Unsplash)

“Negligence, external pressure, or the misuse of office at any level regarding law and order matters will not be tolerated under any circumstances. An impartial high-level inquiry into the entire matter will be conducted, and strict action against the guilty will be ensured,” said Yadav on X, as he took cognisance of the matter and directed the chief secretary to suspend Katni police superintendent Neha Pachisia.

Pachisia’s office was sealed after a case was registered against her and two other accused, Maroof Ahmed Hanfi and Kshitij Raj Barapatre. The three have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s sections 61 (forgery of valuable documents), 198 (false statements), 199 (false declarations),307 (theft after preparation made for causing death, hurt, or restraint) and 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).

The family of Akash Lodhi, who was released on bail in July after his arrest in April for the murder of a tribal man, alleged that Pachisia pressured them to sell 2.15 hectares of land in exchange for relief. Pachisia and a police station in charge allegedly demanded money to alter court statements and secure the release of all accused.

A probe found the guideline value of the land exceeded ₹82 lakh, but the sale deed was allegedly executed for ₹18.20 lakh through police coercion. “It was found that Maroof Ahmed Hanafi, named as the buyer in the documents, did not have sufficient funds in his account. On April 15, the day of registration, ₹10 lakh was credited to his account by Shine Partners and another ₹5 lakh by Kshitij Raj Barapatre. This exposed the corruption charges,” said the probe report.

Inspector general (Jabalpur range) Pramod Kumar Verma directed an inquiry.

In October 2025, sub-divisional police officer Pooja Pandey was among those arrested for extortion, robbery, and criminal conspiracy for embezzling the seized hawala money from a Nagpur-based businessman in Seoni and letting the accused go without action.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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