Harshita Brella was strangled say police as more CCTV of prime suspect husband is released

A woman whose body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford was strangled, a post morten examination showed.

Detectives investigating the murder of 24-year-old Harshita Brella, from Corby, are renewing their appeal for information as they continue their inquiries into the circumstances that led to her death.

A murder investigation was launched after her body was found in a vehicle in Brisbane Road, Ilford, east London, in the early hours of Thursday, November 14, as exclusively revealed by Essex News and Investigations on Friday.

Police have now said they believe she was murdered on November 10.

Officers had attended Harshita’s home address in Skegness Walk, Corby, after receiving a call regarding concerns for her welfare on Wednesday, November 13. After being unable to locate Harshita, a missing person investigation was launched and fast-track enquiries sadly led to the discovery of her body inside the boot of a vehicle in Brisbane Road in the Ilford area of London.

A forensic postmortem examination carried out at Leicester Royal Infirmary on Friday, November 15, gave the preliminary cause of death as strangulation.

Officers and detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit and Northamptonshire Police, working with colleagues from the National Crime Agency, continue to work around the clock to establish the full circumstances behind Harshita’s death.

Inquiries led detectives to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Corby on the evening of Sunday, November 10, by her husband, 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba of Sturton Walk, Corby.

The couple had an arranged marriage in India in August 2023 before a Hindhu ceremony in March.

They then moved to the UK.

She worked in a factory while Lamba was a student in London.

Lamba is believed to have fled the country and an international manhunt is underway.

Police suspect Lamba then transported Harshita’s body from Corby to Ilford by car. The car was left parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford, and detectives believe Lamba then fled the country.

Detectives have been piecing together hours of CCTV footage in the Corby and Ilford area to track the movements of their suspect. They are releasing new images in the hope they will be a prompt to anyone who may have interacted with him at any time between Sunday morning, November 10, and Monday evening, November 11, and encourage them to contact police.

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.

“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.”

“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.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room by calling 101, quoting Operation Westcott.

Alternatively information can be submitted via our online public portal at www.mipp.police.uk or by calling Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555111.

The inquest into Harshita’s death will be opened tomorrow, Wednesday 20 November, 9.45am, at The Guildhall, in Northampton.