UK - 2024-Harshita Brella,24,found dead in a car boot in east London, 14th November

[Marysmith]

Husband of Harshita Brella, from Corby, 'got back in her life'

Harshita Brella's sister says Pankaj Lamba worked himself back into his wife's life after he was arrested.

www.bbc.co.uk

How many times have we heard this story? If happened to me too. I'm so sorry Harshita.

 

[JennieM]

Harshita Brella 'told family her husband will kill her'​

"She said I will not go back to him. He will kill me."

Harshita's family think Mr Lamba is in India but said police there were "not listening" to them. Local police have told the BBC that UK authorities have not requested for them to intervene.

[…]

"I used to say to her, when I die I want you to perform my final rites," [her father] said in an interview with BBC. "I had no idea that I would have to do hers."

The family also said Harshita had a miscarriage in the weeks before her death.

Because the alleged crime was committed in the UK, Delhi Police say they are unable to conduct their own investigation. Without a complaint in India, there is very little that can be done.

Northamptonshire Police said its investigation "continues at pace" and it is "following numerous lines of enquiry", but did not confirm whether it had been in contact with authorities in India.

Assistant Chief Constable Emma James added: "Maintaining the integrity of our investigation and securing justice for Harshita is our number one priority and as a result of that, there are certain aspects of this case that we are unable to comment on at the moment."

Harshita Brella told family her husband would kill her, mother tells BBC

Harshita's body was found in the boot of a car in east London last month.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Lucy6226]

If someone is saying 'I can't go back, they will kill me' then it's highly likely that they will be killed imo. A restraining order is not going to matter to someone intent on causing harm. More needs to be done to keep people safe

 

[RobinCAL]

Harshita Brella: Mother of murder suspect 'cannot believe' he killed wife

Sunil Devi says she thought Harshita and her son, Pankaj Lamba, were "happy in their lives".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Dotta]

"Moment Harshita Brella's murder suspect husband is caught on CCTV
hours after she was strangled to death inside her own home -
as police hunt the fugitive feared to be hiding in India."

Murder suspect husband is seen on CCTV hours after his wife was killed

Harshita Brella is believed to have been strangled to death at her home in Corby before her body was dumped in London. Her husband, the suspect in, was caught on CCTV pacing outside his home.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Yellowbelly]

Pankaj Lamba's parents arrested in India. Still no sign of Lamba himself.

Harshita Brella murder: Pankaj Lamba's parents arrested

Ms Brella's death has prompted an international manhunt for her husband, Pankaj Lamba.

www.bbc.com

 

[JennieM]

The parents of a man suspected of killing his wife and leaving her body in the boot of a car in London have been arrested, the BBC understands.

Indian Police said Darshan Singh and Sunil Devi face charges for causing the death of Harshita Brella by subjecting her to cruelty under what is locally known as the "dowry death" law.

The investigation is separate to one being led in the UK by Northamptonshire Police, who believe the accused parents' son, Pankaj Lamba, murdered Ms Brella, 24, who lived in Corby, before fleeing the country in November.

[…]

The arrest of Mr Singh and Ms Devi followed a complaint by Ms Brella's parents.

Her father Satbir Singh told the BBC that after months of waiting, he felt some progress was being made in the case.

[…]

According to the Indian legal code, a dowry death is when "burns or bodily injury occurs" to a woman within seven years of marriage.

[…]

Harshita Brella murder: Pankaj Lamba's parents arrested

Ms Brella's death has prompted an international manhunt for her husband, Pankaj Lamba.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Yellowbelly]

Pankaj Lamba charged with murder.

Murder charge authorised over Harshita Brella death

Ms Brella's death has prompted an international manhunt for her husband, Pankaj Lamba.

www.bbc.com

 

[VioletLilac]

Pankaj Lamba charged with murder.

Murder charge authorised over Harshita Brella death

Ms Brella's death has prompted an international manhunt for her husband, Pankaj Lamba.

www.bbc.com

I didn't know they can charge someone without knowing where they are.

 

[JennieM]

Officers investigated over Harshita Brella contact​

21 March 2025, 12:41 GMT

Four police officers are being investigated over their interaction with a woman who police believe was murdered by her husband.

The police watchdog said the officers had been served disciplinary notices over their alleged handling of a domestic abuse report by Harshita Brella.

[…]

IOPC director Derrick Campbell said two were served disciplinary notices "at the level of gross misconduct" and two for "potential misconduct".

"The gross misconduct notices on two detective constables cover alleged failings to progress enquiries and communicate with Ms Brella after her report of domestic abuse at the end of August 2024," he explained.

"The misconduct notices on two more senior officers relate to their supervision of the case and relevant risk assessments."

The notices meant the officers were under investigation but would not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings would follow.

[…]

Harshita Brella police investigated over contact with victim

Police believe the 24-year-old's husband killed her and has fled the country.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[jojojaja]

T

If someone is saying 'I can't go back, they will kill me' then it's highly likely that they will be killed imo. A restraining order is not going to matter to someone intent on causing harm. More needs to be done to keep people safe

The things they did to keep her safe alienated her. The police, any of the authorities making decisions over these matters need to first work out with psychologists, specialists in how the victim is feeling, will react, their needs and boundaries, any cultural needs, basically anything that is needed to help that person feel safe, cared for, their boundaries met, listened to etc etc because going along with bureaucratic procedures, tick boxes, not considering exactly how vulnerable, scared, traumatised, anxious, traumatised, uprooted and much more a person feels and doing what works for them to be able to get out of the situation and feel supported, to not have anything that makes them feel like they did something wrong, that they are kept informed in a way that doesn't make them feel overwhelmed. It's no wonder people often go back into the situations that harm them when the process that is supposed to help them can make them feel worse and more vulnerable.

It sounds like in this case they also mishandled the procedures they're supposed to go through.

 

[RobinCAL]

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-05-20/harshita-brella-wanted-husband-seen-on-cctv-withdrawing-money-near-delhi

 

[dotr]

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-05-20/harshita-brella-wanted-husband-seen-on-cctv-withdrawing-money-near-delhi

''⁠Delhi Police said two mobile phones, which had been used by Lamba were being tracked and airports had been given the alert to arrest him should he attempt to travel.'

'A £500 reward has been announced by police in India for information leading to Lamba's arrest. His next court hearing is scheduled for August 13.'