The family of a murdered newlywed has claimed that she would still be alive today if police had not intervened and advised her against leaving the United Kingdom. Harshita Brella, a 24-year-old Indian woman, was strangled at her home in Corby by her husband Pankaj Lamba just eight months after their marriage.
Police advice under scrutiny
Harshita had sought help from Northamptonshire Police in August 2024 after alleging that her husband had attacked her. According to her sister, Sonia Dabas, officers told Harshita that neither she nor Lamba could leave the country because her case was active. Ms Dabas told the Daily Mail: "She was terrified at that time and we wanted her to come back home to India where she would be safe. But she told me the police officer said that neither she nor Pankaj could leave the country because her case was active."
Ms Dabas added: "This is one of the worst things for us. Had she come back at that time as we all wanted, she would still be alive today. Instead, he was able to flee without question after her murder. He reached India without anyone stopping him."
Harshita's father, Satbir Singh Brella, described his daughter as "broken" after police placed her in a women's refuge alone. "She was completely broken. I told her many times, 'Child, come home now... there's no reason to stay.' But she believed she was not allowed to leave," he said. "If the police had not said that to her, we would have booked the ticket and brought her home to India right away. There was nothing else stopping us."
Murder and flight
Harshita was killed on November 10, 2024. Her body was discovered four days later in the boot of a Vauxhall Corsa in Ilford, East London. Lamba, a part-time security guard, is believed to have flown to India from Heathrow Airport three days before her body was found. He was later seen on CCTV withdrawing the equivalent of £3,760 from a bank in Gurugram, India.
Lamba has been charged in his absence with murder, rape, sexual assault, and controlling or coercive behaviour. A manhunt remains underway.
Misconduct proceedings
Four officers from Northamptonshire Police are now facing misconduct proceedings over their handling of domestic abuse allegations. The force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). A police spokesman said: "Northamptonshire Police is liaising with the IOPC with regard to this allegation. The IOPC have previously conducted an independent inquiry into police contact with Harshita Brella and her husband Pankaj Lamba, prior to Harshita's death in November 2024."
The family has travelled to the UK from India and is expected to meet with Northamptonshire Police next week. Ms Dabas described her sister as "a very innocent and naive girl, living in a new country. She believed the advice she was given."
