A murder charge has been authorised against the husband of a woman found dead in a car boot in east London. Harshita Brella, 24, was discovered in a silver Vauxhall Corsa on Brisbane Road, Ilford, on 14 November last year.
Pankaj Lamba, 23, who is believed to have left the UK, has also been charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault, and controlling or coercive behaviour, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. The charges were laid at Northampton magistrates court on Wednesday in his absence, and he has not yet been arrested.
Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Samantha Shallow stated: “The CPS has reviewed a file of evidence submitted by Northamptonshire police and has authorised a charge of murder against Pankaj Lamba in relation to Harshita Brella’s death. Lamba, formerly of Sturton Walk, Corby, is also charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.”
Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, the senior investigating officer, said: “We are committed to securing justice for Harshita and her family and continue to offer our support at this difficult time. It remains an active investigation and as such, there continue to be aspects of the case that we are unable to comment on at this time.”
Brella, originally from Delhi, moved to the UK last April following her marriage to Lamba in August 2023.
