Wanted man suspected of killing wife whose body was found in car boot is charged with murder

A wanted man suspected of killing his wife before her body was found in a car boot has been charged with her murder.

Pankaj Lamba, who is the subject of an international manhunt following Harshita Brella’s death last year, has also been charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.

Ms Brella, 24, was found in the boot of a silver Vauxhall Corsa in Brisbane Road, Ilford, east London, on 14 November.

A post-mortem examination found she died from strangulation.

Police had previously named Lamba, who lived with Ms Brella in Corby, Northamptonshire, as the main suspect in the case.

They believe the 23-year-old fled the UK after his wife’s death.

Samantha Shallow from the Crown Prosecution Service said on Wednesday that charges have been brought after it reviewed a “file of evidence” submitted by Northamptonshire Police.

Lamba has been charged in his absence, and the charges were laid at Northampton Magistrates’ Court.

The development comes after police in India arrested Lamba’s parents, mother Sunil Devi and father Darshan Singh, on 14 March.

Police in Delhi, whose investigation is separate to the one being carried out in the UK, have registered the case under the offence of dowry death.

This refers to when a woman is murdered or driven to suicide over a dispute about dowry – property or money given by a bride to her husband when they get married.

Under the Indian penal code, dowry deaths involve the fatality of a woman “caused by burns or bodily injury… within seven years of her marriage, if she was subjected to cruelty or harassment for, or in connection with, a dowry demand”.

Surendra Chaudhary, deputy commissioner of police in Delhi, said the force is now trying to trace Lamba’s sister.

He said: “Lamba’s sister Uma is currently absconding and raids are on to nab her as well.”

Sonia Dabas, sister of Ms Brella, told Sky News: “This is a good development in the case that the parents have been arrested and criminal investigations begun.

“The police have so far been sleeping and non-active on this case. Now that Delhi High Court has asked for a status report next week from the Delhi police, the federal home and foreign ministry they have got their act together. It’s the pressure from the courts.”

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Ms Brella’s family believe Pankaj was on a flight to Delhi that arrived on 12 November and Ms Dabas suggested “he may be somewhere in Haryana or near Chandigarh”, states in northern India.

The village of Dharoli in Haryana is where Lamba’s family is from and his father, mother and sister still live there.

When news of the manhunt for Lamba initially broke, the village of about 2,000 people closed ranks and stopped outsiders from entering for fear of the disgrace the case brought to the community.

Lamba lived in the village until he finished primary school, before going on to pursue higher education while living with his uncle and aunt in Gurugram, south of Delhi.

Lamba and Ms Brella entered into an arranged marriage, with a legal wedding held in August 2023, before the couple moved to the UK in April 2024.

Following the charges that were brought in the UK on Wednesday, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from Northamptonshire Police said: “We are committed to securing justice for Harshita and her family and continue to offer our support at this difficult time.

“This 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. We would urge all parties to respect the judicial process to ensure the integrity of the proceedings.”

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