Ms Brella's remains were found in a car boot on November 14

Harshita Brella police issue new CCTV pictures of murder suspect husband

Police have named Ms Brella's husband, Pankaj Lamba as a prime suspect, after her remains were found in a car boot in Ilford, east London, on November 14, sparking a manhunt

by · The Mirror

Northamptonshire Police have released CCTV in the hunt for Harshita Brella's husband nearly a week after the discovery of the 24-year-old's remains sparked an international manhunt.

The 24-year-old woman's body was found inside the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London, close to an entrance to Valentines Park in the early hours of Thursday, after her family asked people to file a complaint as they "thought something was wrong" by November 13.

An international manhunt is now under way for Ms Brella's husband, Pankaj Lamba, who was named by Northamptonshire Police as the prime suspect in her murder.

Police issue new CCTV pictures of suspect husband( Image: northants.police.uk)

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit (EMSOU), said: “We are working closely with policing colleagues and our partners in the CPS, and in order to secure justice for Harshita, there are certain aspects of this investigation we are unable to comment on.

“While I appreciate there is a lot of speculation in the media, we would ask people to think carefully about the obligations we have to bring justice by maintaining the integrity of the investigation. However, the investigation continues at pace and we are following numerous lines of inquiry.

Inquiries led detectives to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Corby( Image: northants.police.uk)

“Our inquiries have established that Pankaj Lamba drove a Silver Vauxhall Corsa (pictured) from Corby to Ilford sometime on the morning of Monday, November 11. We suspect Harshita’s body had been placed in the boot of the vehicle by Lamba before leaving Corby. Lamba then abandoned the vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford and made his getaway.”

An international manhunt has been launched for Pankaj Lamba( Image: PA)
The wedding ceremony was held in northern India

“We are continuing to appeal for information and I would urge anyone who may have seen anything suspicious or had any sightings of Pankaj Lamba in Corby, Ilford or elsewhere in the days leading up to the discovery of Harshita’s body, to contact police as soon as possible.

“Any information, no matter how small, may be relevant to the investigation and help us get justice for Harshita.

“Specialist officers continue to provide support to Harshita’s family and our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time as they try come to terms with the tragic loss of their daughter and sister.”

The woman's parents said they now "want justice" for their daughter. Speaking from India, Ms Brella's mother, Sudesh Kumari, said: "I just want justice for my daughter."

Her father, Satbir Brella, told BBC News: "I want my son-in-law to be brought to justice and I want my daughter's body brought home." Her sister, Sonia Dabas, said her sibling was "very excited" to move to the UK in April following an arranged marriage with Lamba but "didn't live a very happy life" after settling in the country.

Harshita's mother Sudesh Kumari (left) and sister Sonia Dabas (right)

A neighbour has said she heard two blistering rows, one involving a woman who "sounded scared", in the days before Ms Brella's body was discovered. Northamptonshire Police Chief Inspector Paul Cash told a press conference in Kettering: "Inquiries lead us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband Pankaj Lamba.

"We suspect Lamba transported Harshita's body from Northamptonshire to Ilford by car. We believe he has now fled the country." Earlier, a police spokesman confirmed Ms Brella had previously been the victim of domestic violence and in early September was made subject of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) at Northampton Magistrates' Court.

Detectives at the home where Harshita lived in Corby, Northamptonshire( Image: Terry Harris)

Northamptonshire Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of previous contact between the force and Ms Brella. Anyone who may have information is asked to call police on 101 quoting Operation Westcott or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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