International manhunt launched for husband of Harshita Brella after body found in boot of car

An international manhunt is under way for the husband of a woman who was murdered and found in the boot of a car.

Northamptonshire Police has named Pankaj Lamba as the prime suspect in the murder of 24-year-old Harshita Brella, from Corby.

On Sunday, the force said: “We believe he has now fled the country.”

Here is what we know, and don’t know, about the case.

What we know

Northamptonshire Police was contacted on Wednesday by a member of the public concerned for Brella’s welfare. Officers went to her home in Skegness Walk, Corby, but got no answer.

A missing persons investigation was launched and her body was found in the boot of a car in Brisbane Road, Ilford, east London, in the early hours of Thursday.

A post-mortem examination established she had been murdered.

Then, on Sunday evening, Chief Inspector Paul Cash said at a press conference: “Our 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.”

The force released images of Lamba and urged anyone with any information that may assist inquiries – “no matter how small” – to contact it. More than 60 detectives are now working on the case.

Police have also confirmed 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.

It was reported the DVPO banned the perpetrator of the violence from visiting Brella’s workplace.

What we don’t know

Northamptonshire Police has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) because of previous contact between it and Brella.

However, it hasn’t given any further details about that previous contact and what it entailed.

It is also not known how she died. While a post-mortem examination revealed she had been murdered, police have not revealed any further details about her injuries or what detectives believe happened in the run-up to her death.

Northamptonshire Police said a member of the public had raised concerns for the 24-year-old’s welfare ahead of her body being discovered, but we don’t know what these concerns were and who that person was.

Meanwhile, it is not known which country Lamba has fled to.

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