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Husband Accused of Killing Wife Still at Large in India

Summary

  • UK police search for Pankaj Lamba, accused of murdering wife Harshita Brella
  • Lamba spotted running a shop near Delhi, but disappeared when police closed in
  • Brella's family disappointed with lack of progress in the case by UK and Indian authorities

In a tragic case that has spanned borders, UK police are still searching for Pankaj Lamba, the man accused of murdering his wife Harshita Brella in 2024. Brella, a 24-year-old from Delhi, was found strangled and hidden in the boot of a car in Ilford, East London, on November 14, 2024. Investigators believe she was killed days earlier, on November 10, in Corby, Northamptonshire.

Lamba, Brella's husband, fled to India soon after the crime and has remained missing. In March 2025, Northamptonshire Police charged Lamba with murder, rape, sexual assault, and forceful behavior. Detectives traveled to India in July to meet Brella's family and return her belongings.

According to reports, Lamba was spotted running a snack and vegetable store near his childhood home in Delhi earlier this year. He kept his face covered and was often seen with a woman and a young child. However, the shop suddenly shut down in April, and locals believe Lamba left the area when police began closing in.

Brella's family is deeply disappointed with the lack of progress in the case. Her mother, Sudesh Kumari, expressed frustration, saying, "Why has her killer not been caught yet? Neither the UK government nor the Indian government are doing anything. I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace." Her sister, Sonia Dabas, also feels the family has been ignored by both governments.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating four Northamptonshire Police officers over how they handled Brella's domestic abuse complaint before her murder. The report has been completed and shared with the force, which has until mid-November to respond.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.
Pankaj Lamba, the man accused of killing his wife Harshita Brella in the UK in 2024, is currently at large in India. He was spotted running a shop near Delhi earlier this year, but disappeared when police started closing in on his location.
Harshita Brella's family is disappointed with the lack of progress in the case by both the UK and Indian governments. The UK police have traveled to India as part of their ongoing search for Lamba, but he remains missing. Brella's mother and sister feel the authorities in both countries have not done enough to find her killer and deliver justice.
Weeks before her murder, Harshita Brella reported domestic abuse by her husband, Pankaj Lamba. The UK police arrested Lamba but released him on bail with restrictions that expired a month before Brella's death. Her family believes this gave Lamba the opportunity to carry out the murder.

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