THE family of a murdered woman have been left frustrated as cops refuse to give them information a year on with her husband still on the run.
Harshita Brella, 24, was found dead in the boot of a car four days after her family last heard from her on November 10 last year.
Sister Sonia Dabas has slammed the police’s lack of action in trying to capture the prime suspect – Harshita’s husband, Pankaj Lamba, 23.
He is believed to have fled to India where his family is helping him to evade the justice system.
Harshita’s body was discovered in a silver Vauxhall Corsa in Ilford, South London a year ago – almost one hundred miles from the couple’s home in Corby, Northamptonshire.
Cops discovered the grim find in the early hours of November 14, 2024 after they received a call regarding concern for Harshita’s welfare the day before.
Lamba is believed to have strangled his wife, then driven her body from Corby to Ilford before fleeing the country.
Northamptonshire Police charged the man with murder in March this year.
But her family have heard nothing from cops since then.
Sonia is now speaking out in criticism of both police in the UK and India, saying she will not give up on bringing justice to her sister.
Speaking from her home in Delhi, Sonia said: “They always say the investigation is going on, we can’t share anything.
“We ask anything – they say we don’t know.”
Other people have given the family possible information into Lamba’s wehereabouts, which Sonia says they are “essentially now investigating [him] themselves”.
Her father has gotten leads that Lamba is currently residing in the north of the country from his own source.
Sonia added: “The reality is he is three steps away from our investigation team. That’s why they are not able to trace him.”
Lamba is known to have an uncle in the police, who is likely giving him information.
Sonia also believes Lamba was able to go to a bank and withdraw money over the counter in March.
She said: “It’s shameful for the Indian agencies. Delhi police are doing nothing.”
Harshita’s sister directly addressed Lamba in appeal: “She was a girl, just a baby.
“So you love your life. That’s why you are hiding.
“Harshita also loved her life.
“One day justice will serve us. I know it. I will continue this fight till my last breath.”
Sonia added: “I didn’t get positivity from him. I didn’t feel he was good for my sister but everything was done so I couldn’t say anything at that time.”
Lamba left for the UK in September 2023, wanting to take a one-year diploma in management.
Harshita joined then joined him in February 2024 on a dependant visa, said to have been “excited” to move to the UK.
Sonia said: “She felt she would prove herself. A new life, a new journey. But only after 10 days she told me she was getting harassment.”
Harshita got a job at Wincanton Web on May 10, and was promoted three times in six months.
Lamba worked as a security guard whilst studying, and Harshita began to earn more than him.
Sonia said she was “very hard working” with aims to become a manger within year after getting an admin role.
“But her personal life was very dangerous. She never told me anything. When there was the domestic violence she then told me the previous history.
“She was unhappy. She told me he may be cheating. She was crying and saying she was pregnant and he saw the video call and cut the call.
“He always went missing for two to three days and left her alone. He said he was at work.
“Pankaj was playing with her feelings.”
He also reportedly forced Harshita to work extra hours, after she already worked ten-hour shifts and commuted across Corby by bicycle whilst her husband used the car.
When she got home, he then allegedly made her wash his clothes, clean the house and cook for him.
Sonia continued: “She never took a rest, Pankaj thought she was his slave.
“I told her ‘you are also a human being, something is wrong, take a step back,’ but she was in love.”
Lamba was also known to have controlled Harshita’s bank accounts, withholding money she earnt, as well as forbidding her to talk to anyone at work so she ate lunch alone.
Sonia tried to persuade her sister that she was being treated badly but she could not get through to her.
Lamba even beat Harshita at their flat in Sturton Walk in summer last year.
She managed to escape and knocked on the door of their downstairs neighbour, who was also Indian and helped her.
Sonia said: “They helped her that time.
“Otherwise I believe she would have been killed on that day.”
Lamba also allegedly attacked Harshita in the street trying to rip identity documents from her hand.
He screamed at her as she ran away, which was only interrupted by a local person.
She managed to get away to an older friend who gave her a place to stay for a couple of days, before police placed her in a refuge.
Harshita then found out she was pregnant but quickly lost the baby.
Police applied for a domestic violence protection order two months before her death, but it expired 28 days later.
Harshita still cooked for Lamba whilst in the refuge, which was only a few hundred metres away in Skegness Walk.
Lamba’s family were also said to be pressuring her to withdraw the complain.
Sonia added: “The police never came to meet Harshita. When she called she was told the officer was on holiday.
“She didn’t have any other option. The police would not help her anymore.”
Sonia believes her sister was killed outside the house as nobody from thge flat below had heard anything on the night of November 10.
Police later released footage of Harshita and Lamba walking at Corby boating lake that evening, shortly before when they believe she was killed.
The girls’ parents are still coming to terms with their daughter’s death 12 months on.
Sonia said: “My mama always feels very sad and low. She doesn’t understand why he killed her.
“She did everything for him. We are only two sisters and now I’m alone.
“Papa is very angry.”
Northamptonshire Police’s Detective Superintendent Johnny Campbell said: “As we remember Harshita Brella on the first anniversary of her death, our thoughts very much remain with her family and all who loved her.
“Northamptonshire Police has provided family liaison support to Harshita’s family throughout the past year and in July, I was privileged to travel to India to meet with family members and return the personal belongings of their much loved and much missed daughter and sister.
“Twelve months ago, on November 14, 2024, a murder investigation was launched after 24-year-old Harshita was found dead in a vehicle in the Ilford area of London after being reported missing from her home in Corby, Northamptonshire.
“In March 2025, the Crown Prosecution Service decided that 24-year-old Pankaj Lamba, Harshita’s husband, should be charged with murder in relation to her death.
“This is an exceptionally complex case and with criminal proceedings now active in the UK, we are unable to go into detail about the investigation at this time.
“However, we can confirm that the Indian authorities have been made aware through the appropriate channels of the charging decision.”
Police have labelled the investigation ongoing as they “remain determined as ever to bring the person responsible for Harshita’s death to justice”.
They added: “Once again, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Harshita’s family, and we will continue to offer support as the investigation and our work to secure justice for Harshita and her family continues.”
