Family Seeks Justice One Year After Harshita Brella's Murder

Mon Nov 10 2025 04:13:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The family of Harshita Brella, found murdered in London, expresses frustration as her husband remains on the run in India. They call for legal action and accountability from both the UK and Indian authorities.

Harshita Brella was killed a year ago, with her body discovered in a car boot in London. Her family in India is demanding justice, feeling abandoned by the UK authorities while her husband, alleged to be the murderer, flees in India. Despite pressing charges, they express despair over the lack of action and the perceived negligence in handling her prior domestic abuse case.

One year since Harshita Brella was strangled to death in the UK, there is a sense of disbelief in her family home in the Indian capital Delhi.

Why has her killer not been caught yet? Neither the UK government nor the Indian government are doing anything, Harshita's mother Sudesh Kumari says, sobbing into her scarf. I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace.

Harshita's body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on 14 November 2024, a day after her family contacted UK police to say they had not heard from her since 10 November.

Police believe Harshita, 24, was murdered on that day in Corby, Northamptonshire, by her husband Pankaj Lamba, who fled to India soon after the killing and is still on the run.

The couple, both Indian nationals, had moved from Delhi to the UK, settling in Corby earlier that year.

In March this year, police in Northamptonshire charged him with murder. He also faces charges of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Harshita's sister Sonia Dabas is frustrated with the pace of investigations.

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. They are sending out a message that foreign nationals are not safe in the UK, she told the BBC.

Roughly two months before Harshita was killed, on 3 September, she had filed a case of domestic abuse against her husband. He was arrested and later released on bail on condition that he did not harass, pester or intimidate Harshita.

Four officers of the Northamptonshire Police are being investigated over their handling of Harshita's domestic abuse report and their interaction with her, by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The family believes Pankaj Lamba is in India, being shielded by Indian police. He has relatives who are policemen. In March this year, he was seen on CCTV footage withdrawing money from a bank. Then how come he's not been found yet? This is all because of corruption, says Sonia. The family also says they have information that in the early months of this year, Pankaj was running a shop in Gurgaon, not far from where they live.

Despite their pleas for justice, the family continues to navigate the bureaucratic complexities that come with cross-border legal issues, hoping for their daughter's voice to be heard in the pursuit of justice.