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CCTV footage obtained by the Mirror shows murder suspect Pankaj Lamba calmly walking past police moments after he allegedly abandoned the vehicle with his wife’s body inside
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Harshita Brella’s husband Pankaj Lamba spotted on CCTV
The fugitive at the centre of an international manhunt was caught on CCTV calmly strolling past police moments after allegedly abandoning his murdered wife in a car boot.
Pankaj Lamba is thought to have dumped Harshita Brella’s body in a silver Vauxhall Corsa before driving it 100 miles from their home in Corby, Northants, dumping the vehicle in Ilford, east London, and then leaving the country. Footage obtained by the Mirror shows Lamba on the morning of Monday, November 11 walking with his hood up less than half a mile from the car where Harshita would remain undiscovered for nearly three days.
Carrying a large rucksack and wearing a green coat, grey tracksuit bottoms and white trainers, he walks past a marked police car and unsuspecting members of the public just hours after he is thought to have strangled his wife. Detectives said on Tuesday that they believe Harshita was murdered on the evening of Sunday, November 10.
An international manhunt was launched four days later after the body was found in the early hours of Thursday, November 14. A post-mortem examination gave the preliminary cause of death as strangulation, police said.
Detectives have released new images to prompt anyone who may have seen the suspected killer between Sunday morning and the evening of Monday, November 11 when he is thought to have left the UK. Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell said: “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. Any information, no matter how small, may be relevant to the investigation and help us get justice for Harshita.”
Sonia Dabas, Harshita’s sister, said she spoke to her sister on the night she was killed as she waited for Lamba after making him dinner. She said the family “thought something was wrong” by November 13 after her phone was off for two days, and asked people to file a complaint.
Northamptonshire Police said it was contacted on Wednesday regarding concerns for her welfare – and that led to the discovery of her body and the launch of a murder investigation. Ms Dabas, said her sister “struggled a lot” and “didn’t live a happy life” after marrying Lamba in India in March and moving to the UK.
She said from the family home in Delhi, India on Tuesday: “[She was being] physically harmed and mentally harmed…Why did the police not give her counselling? Why did they not help her?” She said her sister had previously loved travelling but had stopped posting photos on social media because she was not allowed to do so.
“There were restrictions on everything,” she said. Harshita’s father Satbir Brella said that her husband complained to him about her failing to make him food “on time” – and said that she was “talking too much to her mother”.
Mr Brella said: “I want my son-in-law to be brought to justice and I want my daughter’s body brought home.” The family said: “We’re calling on the UK and Indian governments to act swiftly to capture him. Harshita deserves justice. Her voice must be heard. Please help to find the suspect.”
Ms Dabas said that Harshita had been “very excited” to move to the UK after marrying in a traditional ceremony in India in March. But at the end of August she phoned her father to say she had run away, her sister said. “She said he was hitting her and she escaped. She ran out on the streets, he chased after her and hit her there as well,” Ms Dabas said.
“There was a local who saw this and asked what happened which is why he left her. Harshita called someone she knew who came to pick her up.” She raised concerns about her safety with police and obtained a court order in early September banning her husband from contacting her, but only for 28 days.
The force have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because of previous contact between the force and Harshita. People with information can call 101, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or online at mipp.police.uk
