Air Hostess To CSP: Who Is Neha Pachisia, MP Officer Suspended Over Alleged Land Extortion

On Friday, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered the immediate suspension of Katni City Superintendent of Police Neha Pachisia over allegations of land extortion and misuse of official position.

The action followed allegations that Pachisia demanded a bribe and orchestrated the transfer of land belonging to the family of a murder accused.

Yadav described the Katni matter as “extremely serious” and said negligence, pressure or misuse of official position in matters concerning law and order would not be tolerated at any level. He also ordered an impartial investigation and directed that strict action be taken against those found responsible.

An FIR has been registered against Pachisia, Maroof Ahmed Hanafi and Kshitij Raj Barapatre under sections relating to extortion, cheating, criminal conspiracy and misuse of official position.

What Are The Allegations Against Pachisia?

The case relates to a murder investigation being handled by Pachisia. According to Jabalpur Range Inspector General Pramod Verma, Pachisia allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹15 lakh from the family of an accused.

“When the accused said that he did not have the money, the land belonging to his father was transferred and registered in the name of one of her associates,” Verma said.

The allegations concern the family of Akash Lodhi, who was arrested in April in connection with the murder of a tribal man and released on bail in July.

The family alleged that Pachisia pressured them to sell 2.15 hectares of land in Kanhwara in exchange for legal relief. Pachisia and the then station house officer allegedly demanded money in return for altering court statements and facilitating the release of the accused.

How Did The Disputed Land Deal Take Place?

The subsequent inquiry found that the property was sold at a value substantially below its guideline value. The land had a guideline value of more than ₹82 lakh, while the sale deed was executed for ₹18.20 lakh.

Investigators alleged that the transaction took place under police pressure and identified Maroof Ahmed Hanafi as a frontman for the purchase.

Financial records also indicated that Hanafi did not have the independent funds required for the transaction. On April 15, the day the land was registered, his bank account received ₹15 lakh. Of this amount, ₹10 lakh came from a firm called Shine Partners, while another ₹5 lakh was transferred by Kshitij Raj Barapatre.

What Did Inquiry Find?

Senior police officers in the Jabalpur range recorded statements from more than 10 people during the inquiry. Pachisia also appeared before the inquiry officer and recorded her statement.

Following the inquiry, police sealed Pachisia’s office and registered a case against Pachisia, Hanafi and Barapatre under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 61, 198, 199, 307 and 318(4).

The FIR relates to allegations of extortion, cheating, criminal conspiracy and misuse of official position.

From Air Hostess To CSP

Pachisia is a former air hostess who entered public service after clearing the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission examinations. She has previously served in Khandwa and Guna.

During her tenure in Guna, she introduced women’s mobile police stations across three jurisdictions, with the stated aim of allowing women to resolve certain disputes closer to their homes.

The extortion case is not the first administrative dispute involving Pachisia this year. In July, she faced allegations of demanding ₹30,000 from a transporter during a vehicle check.

Following the incident, police suspended her driver and relieved Pachisia of the charge of three police stations. The latest case, however, involves allegations of extortion, a disputed land transfer and misuse of official position in connection with a murder investigation.