A year after the tragic murder of Harshita Brella in the United Kingdom, her family in Delhi remains engulfed in grief and disbelief, struggling to come to terms with her untimely death and the slow progress of justice. Harshita, a 24-year-old Indian national who had recently moved to the UK with her husband, was found strangled to death in the boot of a car in Ilford, East London, on 14 November 2024. The discovery came a day after her family alerted the UK police when they lost contact with her, last hearing from her on 10 November.
The police investigation centers around Harshita’s husband, Pankaj Lamba, who is suspected of killing her in Corby, Northamptonshire, on the day she vanished. Shortly after the murder, Lamba fled back to India and remains at large, evading arrest. The couple, both originally from Delhi, had relocated to the UK earlier that year and settled in Corby. In March 2025, Northamptonshire Police formally charged Lamba with murder, along with additional accusations including rape, sexual assault, and controlling or coercive behavior.
Harshita’s family has voiced profound frustration and disappointment at the pace and seriousness of the investigation, particularly criticizing the UK police. Her sister, Sonia Dabas, expressed concerns that the police’s alleged lack of urgency might be influenced by the couple’s foreign nationality. Sonia lamented that this perceived indifference could signal to other foreign nationals that they are unsafe in the UK, a sentiment that adds to the family’s anguish.
The tragic events were preceded by a disturbing history of domestic abuse. Just two months before her death, on 3 September 2024, Harshita had filed a domestic abuse complaint against her husband. Following her report, Lamba was arrested but was subsequently released on bail with strict conditions prohibiting him from harassing or intimidating Harshita. However, this protective order, known as a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO), expired on 1 October 2024, leaving Harshita vulnerable.
Sonia is critical of the Northamptonshire Police’s handling of this domestic abuse case, accusing them of negligence and inadequate follow-up. She believes that the expiration of the DVPO without further action may have emboldened Lamba, leading him to believe he could commit murder without consequence. This alleged failure has prompted an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into the conduct of four officers involved in the initial domestic abuse case and their interactions with Harshita. The IOPC has completed its investigation and shared the findings with Northamptonshire Police, which now has until mid-November to respond.
Northamptonshire Police have described the case as exceptionally complex and have refrained from providing detailed comments due to active criminal proceedings. However, they confirmed that the Indian authorities have been informed of the charges against Lamba through official channels. The Indian government, in turn, has acknowledged ongoing communication with their UK counterparts but has not clarified whether an extradition request has been formally issued to India for Lamba’s arrest and return.
Adding to the family’s distress are allegations that Lamba is being shielded by elements within the Indian police force. Harshita’s family claims that Lamba has police relatives and that despite CCTV footage showing him withdrawing money from a bank in March 2025, he has not been apprehended. They also allege that he was operating a shop in Gurgaon, near Delhi, in the months following the murder. Sonia accuses local Delhi police of deliberately delaying action, suggesting corruption is hindering the search for her brother-in-law.
Delhi Police have neither confirmed nor denied these allegations but stated that they have acted on a dowry complaint filed by Harshita’s parents against Lamba and several of his family members. The accused relatives were arrested but later released on bail. The Delhi Police also mentioned that public notices offering rewards for information leading to Lamba’s capture were issued earlier in the year and that the search for him continues.
Pankaj Lamba’s family, residing in the village of Dharauli, about 40 miles north of Delhi, declined to speak to the media when approached. However, they rejected all accusations against both themselves and Lamba, claiming they have had no contact with him since 10 November 2024, the same date Harshita was last heard from.
For Harshita’s father, Satbir Singh