Police launch hunt to arrest suspended Katni CSP Neha Pachisia
Aug 24, 2026, 12.52 AM IST
Jabalpur: Suspended Katni CSP Neha Pachisia, booked along with two others for allegedly misusing her position in a murder investigation and facilitating the purchase of land belonging to the accused’s family at a fraction of its value through a benami transaction, remained untraced more than two days after the FIR was registered, with police teams searching for her.
Pachisia was booked at Kuthela police station along with Kshitij Raj Barapatre and Maroof Ahmed Hanfi under Sections 61, 198, 199(B), 307 and 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). She has also been suspended in connection with the case.
Jabalpur range IG Pramod Verma said an eight-member special investigation team (SIT) had been constituted to probe the allegations and efforts were under way to arrest Pachisia.
“An SIT has been constituted to investigate the matter. The eight-member SIT is headed by additional SP Anjana Tiwari. Her last location was found near police headquarters, Bhopal. Search is on for arresting her,” Verma told TOI.
The case stems from allegations that Pachisia, while supervising the investigation into a murder case registered at Kuthela police station, failed to ensure the filing of the chargesheet within the stipulated period, allegedly resulting in the accused being granted default bail. She is then accused of using her position to pressure the accused’s family and facilitate the purchase of their land at a substantially lower price.
According to an earlier inquiry, land allegedly worth around Rs 1 crore was purchased for just Rs 15-20 lakh in the name of Hanfi, who was allegedly acting as a front for the transaction. Investigators also found that Barapatre had transferred money into Hanfi’s bank account before the purchase, despite the latter having only a few thousand rupees in his account earlier.
The allegations had earlier prompted the police department to withdraw Pachisia’s supervisory charge over several police stations and suspend her official driver. An inquiry was subsequently conducted by additional SP Anu Beniwal, who recorded statements of Pachisia and others before submitting her report.
Police said the investigation into the alleged misuse of position, the land transaction and other complaints was continuing.
Police said the investigation into the allegations of misuse of position, the land transaction and other complaints is continuing.
Pachisia was booked at Kuthela police station along with Kshitij Raj Barapatre and Maroof Ahmed Hanfi under Sections 61, 198, 199(B), 307 and 318 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). She has also been suspended in connection with the case.
Jabalpur range IG Pramod Verma said an eight-member special investigation team (SIT) had been constituted to probe the allegations and efforts were under way to arrest Pachisia.
“An SIT has been constituted to investigate the matter. The eight-member SIT is headed by additional SP Anjana Tiwari. Her last location was found near police headquarters, Bhopal. Search is on for arresting her,” Verma told TOI.
The case stems from allegations that Pachisia, while supervising the investigation into a murder case registered at Kuthela police station, failed to ensure the filing of the chargesheet within the stipulated period, allegedly resulting in the accused being granted default bail. She is then accused of using her position to pressure the accused’s family and facilitate the purchase of their land at a substantially lower price.
According to an earlier inquiry, land allegedly worth around Rs 1 crore was purchased for just Rs 15-20 lakh in the name of Hanfi, who was allegedly acting as a front for the transaction. Investigators also found that Barapatre had transferred money into Hanfi’s bank account before the purchase, despite the latter having only a few thousand rupees in his account earlier.
The allegations had earlier prompted the police department to withdraw Pachisia’s supervisory charge over several police stations and suspend her official driver. An inquiry was subsequently conducted by additional SP Anu Beniwal, who recorded statements of Pachisia and others before submitting her report.
Police said the investigation into the alleged misuse of position, the land transaction and other complaints was continuing.
Police said the investigation into the allegations of misuse of position, the land transaction and other complaints is continuing.