A Mother's Plea for Justice One Year On
The family of a young woman murdered in the UK, whose fugitive husband remains at large in India, has launched a scathing critique of the police, demanding to know why her killer has not been brought to justice. Harshita Brella, 24, was strangled at her home in Corby, Northamptonshire, after having previously reported her husband for domestic abuse.
A Global Manhunt and Systemic Failures
Her husband, Pankaj Lamba, 23, fled to India three days before Harshita's body was discovered in the boot of a Vauxhall Corsa in Ilford, east London, on 14 November 2024. Speaking to the BBC from Delhi on the first anniversary of her daughter's death, Harshita's mother, Sudesh Kumari, gave a heartbreaking statement. "Why has her killer not been caught yet?" she asked. "Neither the UK government nor the Indian government are doing anything. I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace."
Harshita's sister, Sonia Dabas, expressed deep frustration with the pace of the international investigation, suggesting that their status as foreign nationals may have affected the case's priority. "We are very disappointed with the UK police. Maybe because we are not citizens of the UK, that's why they are not serious about this case," Sonia told the BBC. "They are sending out a message that foreign nationals are not safe in the UK."
A History of Abuse and Missed Opportunities
The tragedy was preceded by clear warning signs. On 3 September 2024, Harshita filed a domestic abuse case against Lamba. He was arrested and released on bail with a condition not to harass her. However, the Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) expired just four weeks later, on 1 October. Sonia Dabas accuses Northamptonshire Police of negligence in their follow-up, which she believes emboldened Lamba. "That's when Pankaj figured out that the UK police are not really serious about this case and he felt he could get away with murder," she said.
This handling is now under formal scrutiny. Four officers from Northamptonshire Police are being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over their response to Harshita's domestic abuse report and their interactions with her. In March 2025, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against Lamba for murder, rape, sexual assault, and controlling or coercive behaviour.
Despite a global manhunt, Lamba has evaded capture. He was captured on CCTV at a bank in Gurugram, India, in March 2025, withdrawing the equivalent of £3,760. Last week, Det Supt Johnny Campbell of Northamptonshire Police stated, "As we remember Harshita Brella on the first anniversary of her death, our thoughts very much remain with her family and all who loved her." He confirmed that the force had provided family liaison support and that he had travelled to India in July to meet with Harshita's family and return her personal belongings.
