Indian authorities have apprehended the parents of a man suspected of murdering his wife and abandoning her body in the trunk of his car in London.
Harshita Brella, aged 24, was discovered in her husband Pankaj Lamba’s Vauxhall Corsa parked in Ilford, east London, during the early hours of November 14. A post-mortem examination revealed that she had died from strangulation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in Delhi, Surendra Chaudhary, disclosed that Lamba’s mother and father, Sunil Devi and Darshan Singh, were arrested on March 14 and remanded to judicial custody.
«Lamba’s sister Uma is currently evading authorities, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend her as well,» he stated.
«Further investigations are currently in progress.»
Sonia Dabas, Harshita’s sister, shared with Sky News: «The arrest of the parents and the initiation of criminal investigations are positive steps in this case.
«The authorities had previously been inactive in pursuing this matter. However, following a directive from the Delhi High Court for a progress report next week from the Delhi police, the federal home and foreign ministries, there has been a renewed effort. This action is a result of court pressure.»
An initial police report, distinct from the UK murder investigation, has identified the parents, sister, and her husband in connection with various offenses.
Authorities in Delhi have filed the case under the dowry death offense, which pertains to the deaths of married women who are killed or compelled to suicide due to dowry-related disputes.
Harshita Brella. Pic: Northamptonshire Police
According to the Indian penal code, dowry deaths involve «the death 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».
Harshita’s family suspects that Pankaj arrived in Delhi on November 12, and Sonia speculated that «he may be in Haryana or near Chandigarh» in northern India.
The family residence of Lamba, where his father, mother, and sister still reside, is in Dharoli, Haryana.
Northamptonshire Police had previously identified Lamba as the prime suspect in Harshita’s death and initiated an international search for him, believing he fled the country after the incident.
Upon the revelation of the case, the village, home to approximately 2,000 individuals, closed ranks and restricted entry to outsiders due to the disgrace brought upon the community.
A few days later, Sky News was granted access and spoke with Sunita, a neighbor.
«I was stunned by the news, finding it hard to believe such a tragedy could occur,» she expressed.
«The family is well-regarded, with no prior complaints against them. The village consensus paints a positive picture. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of the boy being capable of such a heinous act.»
Lamba resided in the village until completing primary school, then pursued higher education while residing with relatives in Gurugram, south of Delhi.
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Lamba and Ms. Brella entered into an arranged marriage, legally wed in August 2023, before relocating to the UK in April 2024.
Ms. Brella had previously been granted a domestic violence protection order (DVPO) at Northampton Magistrates’ Court in September.
Due to prior interactions with Ms. Brella, Northamptonshire Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A neighbor from Corby mentioned hearing two intense arguments, one involving a frightened woman, shortly before Ms. Brella’s body was discovered.