A tragic case unfolds as the family of a murdered newlywed Indian woman claims she might still be alive if not for police advice against her leaving the UK.
Currently, four police officers are under scrutiny for potential misconduct related to their response to domestic abuse claims made by the 24-year-old victim, Harshita Brella.
In August 2024, Harshita reached out to Northamptonshire Police after allegedly being assaulted by her husband, 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba, at their residence in Corby.
Tragically, just a few weeks later, on November 10, she was found dead, reportedly strangled in Corby.
Her body was discovered in the trunk of a car in Ilford, east London, four days after her death. The suspect, part-time security guard Lamba, has been charged with her murder and is believed to have fled to India, where a manhunt is ongoing.
“She was terrified at that time, and we wanted her to return to India where she would be safe,” Harshita’s sister, Sonia Dabas, shared with the Daily Mail.
‘But she told me the police officer said that neither she nor Pankaj could leave the country because her case was active. 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.’
Four police officers are facing misconduct proceedings over their handling of domestic abuse allegations made by 24-year-old Harshita Brella (pictured)
She had contacted Northamptonshire Police in August 2024 after she was allegedly attacked by her husband Pankaj Lamba (pictured), 23, at their home in Corby
Harshita Brella’s mother Sudesh Kumari, father Satbir Singh and sister Sonia Dabas are pictured laying flowers in Corby where they believe Harshita was killed
The mother of two added: ‘She was a very innocent and naive girl, living in a new country. She believed the advice she was given.’
Ms Brella’s devastated father Satbir Singh Brella, who lives near Delhi, added that his daughter, who had arrived in Britain in April 2024 after marrying in India, appeared ‘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,’ Mr Brella 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.’
Northamptonshire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – a mandatory step due to its officers’ previous contact with Ms Brella. The IOPC concluded that four officers should face misconduct proceedings over their handling of the young woman’s claims of domestic abuse.
‘It is our view the officers may potentially have breached police standards of professional behaviour,’ the police watchdog said last November. The IOPC concluded that two detective constables had a case to answer for gross misconduct over their investigation into Ms Brella’s claims.
A sergeant and chief inspector also have a misconduct case to answer over their supervision and review of the case. Northamptonshire Police has said those proceedings are under way in relation to four officers.
The police watchdog said Ms Brella contacted Northamptonshire Police on August 29, 2024, alleging domestic abuse by Lamba, who was in Britain on a student visa studying management. He was arrested on September 3 and released on bail, with conditions not to contact his wife, and issued with a domestic violence protection order.
The victim’s family have flown to England to meet MPs and Northamptonshire Police in their fight to bring Ms Brella’s killer to justice.
‘My sister had been given the wrong advice many times. We thought the UK police were the best in the world. We feel let down on all sides,’ Ms Dabas added.
A spokesman for the force 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.’
