On a quiet November evening in 2024, the lives of two families—one in Delhi, the other in Corby, Northamptonshire—were forever changed. Harshita Brella, a 24-year-old Indian national who had moved to the UK just months prior, was found dead in the boot of a car in Ilford, east London, on November 14. Police believe she was strangled to death by her husband, Pankaj Lamba, four days earlier in Corby. A year later, Harshita’s family is still searching for answers, justice, and closure, as her accused killer remains at large in India.
The story, reported by BBC and Hindustan Times, is one of heartbreak, frustration, and a complex cross-border investigation that has so far failed to bring the suspect to justice. As the anniversary of Harshita’s death passes, her family in Delhi grapples with disbelief and sorrow. “Why has her killer not been caught yet? Neither the UK government nor the Indian government are doing anything,” her mother, Sudesh Kumari, told BBC, her voice choked with grief. “I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace.”
Harshita’s tragic story began with hope. In August 2023, she married Pankaj Lamba in India. The couple soon moved to the UK, settling in Corby. But the marriage quickly soured. According to Harshita’s family, Pankaj began abusing her over dowry demands almost immediately. Harshita confided in her family about the abuse, and on September 3, 2024, she filed a domestic abuse case against her husband. Pankaj was arrested and released on bail, with strict conditions not to harass, pester, or intimidate Harshita. However, the Domestic Violence Protection Order expired on October 1, and the sense of safety it provided vanished with it.
Just over a month later, Harshita was dead. Her family, unable to reach her, contacted UK police. The grim discovery of her body in Ilford set off a chain of events that would span continents. Police believe Pankaj Lamba murdered Harshita in Corby and then fled the UK for India. In March 2025, Northamptonshire Police formally charged him with murder, rape, sexual assault, and controlling or coercive behaviour. But by then, Pankaj was already gone—his whereabouts uncertain, his trail growing cold.
The investigation quickly drew criticism. Harshita’s sister, Sonia Dabas, voiced her frustration to BBC: “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.” Sonia accused Northamptonshire Police of negligence in their handling of Harshita’s domestic abuse report. “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.
These concerns did not go unnoticed. Four Northamptonshire Police officers are under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for their handling of Harshita’s domestic abuse complaint and their interactions with her. The IOPC told BBC that their investigation was complete and had been shared with Northamptonshire Police, who have until mid-November 2025 to respond to the findings. Northamptonshire Police described the case as “exceptionally complex” and confirmed that Indian authorities had been informed of the charges against Pankaj Lamba through the appropriate channels.
Yet the international pursuit of justice has been hampered by bureaucracy and uncertainty. The Indian government told BBC they are in contact with the UK government, but neither side has clarified whether an extradition notice for Pankaj Lamba has been issued. Meanwhile, Harshita’s family believes Pankaj is being shielded by local police in India. “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,” Sonia alleged. The family claims Pankaj was running a shop in Gurgaon, near Delhi, in early 2025.
The Delhi Police did not respond directly to these accusations but told BBC they had acted on a dowry complaint filed by Harshita’s parents against Pankaj and members of his family, who were arrested and are now out on bail. Delhi Police also issued public notices offering a reward for information about Pankaj and say the search is ongoing. Harshita’s possessions, including a pair of shoes, were returned to her family by British officials in July 2025—a small, bittersweet gesture. Her mother, Sudesh Kumari, told BBC, “They are tight for me, but I feel close to her when I wear them.”
As the investigation dragged on, British police took the extraordinary step of traveling to India in November 2025 to track down Pankaj Lamba, as reported by Hindustan Times. Detective Superintendent Johnny Campbell of Northamptonshire Police expressed his condolences on the first anniversary of Harshita’s death, saying, “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.” Campbell also noted that the force had provided family liaison support throughout the past year and personally returned Harshita’s belongings to her family in India.
The case has raised uncomfortable questions about the treatment of foreign nationals, the effectiveness of international law enforcement cooperation, and the protections offered to victims of domestic abuse. Harshita’s letter, written before her death, catalogued the abuse she endured: “sexually abused, verbally abused, physically abused, mentally abused, socially abused, threat—kill you. Even if I go to India then he will kill me. Financially abused—he handled all my accounts and controlled my all money, pressured me for overtime work.” The chilling words now serve as a haunting testament to her suffering and a damning indictment of the systems meant to protect her.
Pankaj Lamba’s family, living in the village of Dharauli north of Delhi, have denied all charges and claim they have not had contact with him since November 10, 2024—the same day Harshita’s family last heard from her. The search for Pankaj continues, with both British and Indian authorities under pressure to act. For Harshita’s father, Satbir Singh Brella, the pain is unrelenting. “My daughter was so straightforward, and kind hearted. A really terrible thing happened to her,” he said. The family’s days are now filled with visits to police stations and courts, their grief compounded by the slow wheels of justice.
As the anniversary of Harshita’s murder passes, her family’s plea remains heartbreakingly simple: justice for Harshita, and peace for those she left behind.
