Harshita Brella’s death: Family claims husband planned murder and fled to India

Last update:November 22, 2024, 10:28 PM IST

Harshita Brella’s mortal remains were found in the boot of a car in east London on November 14.

Images show 24-year-old Harshita Brella (left)/her husband Pankaj Lamba (right) (Source: Northamptonshire Police/Facebook)

The family of 24-year-old Harshita Brella, whose body was recovered from the boot of a car in east London last week, have accused the victim’s husband of pre-planning the murder because he was able to flee to India just a day later after the murder.

Her remains were found in the boot of a car in east London on November 14. The car, which belonged to her husband Pankaj Lamba, was parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford. The post-mortem report revealed that she died of strangulation.

Harshita’s father Sabir Brella also accused his son-in-law and his family of harassing his daughter for dowry. Showing Harshita’s childhood photos to a recent one in which she had slap marks on her face, Sabir said, “Pankaj returned to India after killing her. I request the Indian agencies and the government to intervene and arrest him.”

“Pankaj used to beat her and force her to get money. Because of the regular fights, she started living separately and working in a warehouse. Despite living apart, he would handle her bank accounts. With the hope that one day things will become normal, my daughter continued to fulfill her request, not knowing that this would be the end,” he added.

Pankaj, a resident of Jhajjar in Haryana and Harshita, from Palam in Delhi, got married in March this year and moved to London.

Harshita’s maternal uncle Sandeep Ahlawat, while talking to news agency PTI, said that they tried to approach the British Embassy in Delhi to seek their help in the case but were not allowed to enter in the premises.

“More than 10 days have passed since Harshita’s death, but the family is still in the dark about the development of the case. We don’t know when we would get his body here in India,” Ahlawat told the news agency.

‘Aaj phone nahi kiya, sab theek thak hai beta‘ (You didn’t call today, is everything okay?) — was the last message he sent to his daughter. He said she didn’t answer because she wasn’t there then.

Her elder sister Sonia Dabas told the news agency, “I had my last video call with Harshita on November 10 when she told us that she was preparing food for Pankaj, who was coming for dinner. From the next day, her phone was not contacted. I had a feeling that Pankaj had killed her by then,” she said.

“My parents are completely devastated since we received the tragic news. We have a hope from our Indian government to step in and get justice for my sister,” she added.

The victim’s sister also said that the Indian administration is not helping them. “We have proof that he has returned to India, which we have told the police in London. No one helps us here. We also approached our local police and filed a complaint of dowry harassment against Pankaj and her parents,” she said.

The family also issued a sincere tribute to the deceased. “Harshita, you have left this world but you are still with us in our hearts and will always be there,” read the family’s tribute issued through the police force. “We will never forget you until our last breath. Always stay with us. We miss you every moment of our lives,” he added.

Police in Northamptonshire in the United Kingdom have launched an international manhunt for Pankaj, who they suspect killed his wife earlier this month at her home in Corby before driving her body to London, about 145km from their home, and fled the country after abandoning the car.

Police have released a series of CCTV images of Lamba, suspected of murdering his wife on November 10 in Corby before driving her body to London – around 145 kilometers away.

“Our inquiries have established that Pankaj Lamba drove a Silver Vauxhall Corsa from Corby to Ilford sometime on the morning of Monday 11 November. We suspect that Harshita’s body was placed in the trunk of the vehicle by Lamba before he left Corby. Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford and made his getaway,” said Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, Senior Investigating Officer at the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit.

(With inputs from PTI)