By Lauren Prem
Ms. Harshita Brella, was an Indian woman, who moved to the UK after an arranged marriage with Pankaj Lamba, also an Indian. The Northamptonshire Police found her body in the boot of a car, in Brisbane Road, Ilford, 100 miles from her home in Corby on the 14th of November, 2024. The UK Police firmly believes that her murder happened on 10th November, 2024. Following the discovery of her body in East London, a post-mortem examination confirmed that she was murdered by strangulation. Her husband, Pankaj Lamba has been a main suspect throughout the investigation process, which began on 17th of November. While the UK and international media covered this case widely, there was deafening silence in India, including in the Indian media, until a day back, when Pankakj Lamba’s parents have been arrested.
Ms. Brella’s family has expressed their pain and frustration in the delayed investigation and lack of progress in the case. There is a look out circular against Pankaj Lamba, who has been absconding after arriving in India. His sister is also not to be found.
On 29th November, 2024 her body was repatriated to India, along with her personal belongings holding sentimental value, to her family. The Police suspect Pankaj to have fled London after leaving her body in a car. The Northamptonshire Telegraph first reported that there was a domestic violence protection order in favour of Harshita, which was made by London courts in early September, 2024.
Ms. Brella’s parents approached the Delhi Police and filed a case against Pankaj under sections 498A and 406 of the IPC – Cruelty by husband or relatives and criminal breach of trust. Pankaj’s family are not in contact with the Delhi Police and have firmly expressed that he is not capable of committing such a crime. However, Ms. Brella’s family’s lawyer, Riddhima Aggarwal, is reported to have said that upon his arrival in India, they believe Pankaj contacted a friend and disclosed the precise location of a car in London.
Very recently, on 18th March 2025, new evidence regarding this case was discovered and Northamptonshire Police have communicated to some media channels that they have sent a file to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether there is enough evidence for making charges. The Delhi Police states that Pankaj, was found to be in London a day after Ms. Brella’s murder, according to CCTV footages, and arrived in India on 12th November last year.
Further, Ms. Brella’s family also expressed their inability to move freely due to fear of safety threats. Supreme Court lawyers as well as the Delhi Police have expressed their disappointments regarding inadequate information relating to the case. They have sent around seven mails to the Northamptonshire Police, to which they received no response till now.
A senior Investigating Officer (IO) for Northamptonshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell stated that the investigation is ongoing and the quest for more information cannot be a reason to disrupt the due process of law. While acknowledging concerns relating to the speed of investigation, the IO stated the importance of respecting the integrity of judicial proceedings.
“Justice delayed is justice denied” is a quote that every legal system purports to strongly believe in. Time and again, this quote has proven to be a mere rhetoric, against reality. The Harshita Brella murder case that has failed to bring forth any substantial piece of evidence after more than three months of the actual incident, is a recent testament to this rhetoric.
Brella’s sister says “It’s been three months, and there’s been no update, no new information.” Further, she states “They haven’t shared anything with our embassy, our Delhi Police—no documentation, no emails. Nothing.” Ms Brella’s mother stated: “We have faith, but so far, they haven’t been able to do anything. By now, Pankaj should have been caught, and I want my daughter to get justice as soon as possible.” The emotional distress faced by the family is further aggravated by such a prolonged investigation period.
This is a clear-cut case of denied justice that pierces through multiple layers, as delayed investigation, unfortunately, is not the only problem plaguing this case. The problem of women safety that is persistent and prevalent in the Indian society has laid its path cross-borders. Even worse, it has distraught Ms. Brella’s family, who happily sent her abroad. Her family reports that they are “heartbroken” and are looking for speedy justice, reinforcing the existing fear, in the minds of Indian parents, that sending their daughters abroad might threaten their safety. Advocate Riddhima Aggarwal, the family’s lawyer, who took the case pro bono has stated these shattering words:
“Our hearts went out to her. How do you connect the dots? You send your daughter off with her future husband, full of hopes and dreams, and six months later, you receive a body bag.”
Every single time, women take a step forward towards independence and equality, the society proves that we are indeed ten steps backward! This incident strikes at the very core of society’s perception of women’s safety abroad. Fears of safety is a huge factor that has kept women back, from pursuing their dream, by their own parents. This also makes it a challenge to attain equality – a tenet that is fancily sealed in our Constitution, one that never saw the light of day or manifested into reality after more than seventy-five years of independence. The delayed investigation also taints the case, leaving room for concoction and no hope for justice.
Moreover, this case sets a very bad precedence about India, where an Indian can murder his wife in London, escape to India, and abscond, thereby making a mockery of the Indian legal system. The police authorities in India should catch the culprit and ensure that justice is done to Harshita and her family.
