TRAGIC MURDER IN LONDON: POLICE DISCIPLINARY NOTICES OVER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE
Four police officers have been issued disciplinary notices over suspected shortcomings in managing a domestic abuse report made by Harshita Brella, a 24-year-old woman whose body was discovered in a car boot in Ilford, east London, on 14 November.Brella’s husband, Pankaj Lamba, is currently the subject of an international manhunt following his charge with her murder, rape, and additional offences.
The case is believed to be linked to a dispute over a dowry, with her in-laws also under arrest in India.
Brella and Lamba had an arranged marriage after moving to the UK in April 2024, just seven months before her death.
Witnesses reported hearing intense arguments involving Brella, with one neighbor mentioning she sounded scared, shortly before her body was found.
Police have indicated that Brella’s body was likely strangled on 10 November and then driven to London.
Meanwhile, Lamba, who fled the UK and is suspected to be in northern India, was arrested in India but later released on bail.
Indian authorities have also detained his parents.
The police watchdog, IOPC, is investigating potential failures by Northamptonshire Police officers in progressing Brella’s domestic violence complaint, including allegations of gross misconduct by two detective constables and misconduct by two senior officers over their supervision and risk assessments.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the police expressing their condolences to Brella’s family and stating that further comments are inappropriate at this stage.
The case underscores the importance of proper handling of domestic violence reports and highlights concerns about police misconduct in this tragic case.
