Harshita Brella, a 24-year-old woman who moved to England for an arranged marriage, was murdered by strangulation three months after fleeing what her family describes as a campaign of domestic abuse by her husband, Pankaj Lamba. Lamba, the prime suspect, remains at large and is believed to be in India.
Brella's family recounted her experiences in detail, stating that after moving to Corby, Northamptonshire, in April 2024, she endured violence, sexual assault, coercive control, and financial abuse. She confided in her family during a harrowing phone call on August 20, 2024, during which she reported being beaten and fleeing their home in the middle of the night. Her father spoke with her as she ran, urging her to call the police.
Following this incident, Brella disclosed the extent of her suffering to her family, stating she had cried herself to sleep nightly since arriving in England. She accused Lamba of controlling her every move, demanding obedience, and scrutinizing her finances. Her sister recalled Lamba referring to himself as the “king” of the household and dictating rules Harshita had to follow. The family also allege Lamba had multiple affairs and controlled Brella's wages, preventing her from spending money without his permission, even for basic necessities like a razor.
Brella, who had been promoted to an administrative role at a local factory, became the primary earner. However, her family claims Lamba was exploiting her for money and sent her earnings to a mistress. Her mother stated that Lamba refused to let Brella buy small items, such as an ice cream, and told her to "go eat cow dung."
The abuse escalated after Brella, in the early stages of pregnancy, bought herself a T-shirt, an act that allegedly led to her being beaten. She subsequently suffered a miscarriage and became severely underweight. Despite these events, Brella reported the allegations to Northamptonshire Police in August. Lamba was arrested in September and released on police bail with conditions not to contact his wife, and a Domestic Violence Protection Order was issued.
On November 10, 2024, three months after reporting her abuse, Brella was found strangled to death in Corby. Her body was discovered days later in the boot of a car abandoned in Ilford, east London. Her family stated that despite the allegations and Brella moving to a new flat, Lamba continued to contact her. The last communication with her family occurred on the evening of her death, when she mentioned Lamba had been pushing for a meeting.
Lamba reportedly boarded a flight to Mumbai the day after Brella's death and returned to his hometown near Delhi before her body was discovered. He has been charged with her murder and other offenses but remains on the run. The family expressed a sense of betrayal by authorities in both Britain and India, citing missed opportunities to apprehend Lamba. They noted that approximately £1,800 was withdrawn from Brella's bank account before Lamba allegedly fled to India, where he reportedly spent months in public view before disappearing again.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct found that four officers had cases to answer regarding their handling of Brella's case. While two officers were cleared, proceedings for the remaining two are pending. The family continues to advocate for justice for their daughter, who they believe came to England with dreams of a better life that were ultimately unfulfilled.