An international manhunt is under way for the husband of a woman whose body was found in the boot of a car in East London.
Pankaj Lamba has been named by Northamptonshire Police as the prime suspect in the murder of Harshita Brella, from Corby.
Chief Inspector Paul Cash told a press conference in Kettering: “Inquiries lead us to suspect that Harshita was murdered in Northamptonshire earlier this month by her husband Pankaj Lamba.”
Police believe Lamba transported Brella’s body from Northamptonshire to Ilford by car before fleeing the country.
Harshita Brella was reported missing on Wednesday
Northamptonshire Police
The victim’s body was discovered in the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road, in the early hours of Thursday.
A post-mortem examination has confirmed that Brella was murdered.
Police were initially alerted to her disappearance on Wednesday when a member of the public contacted them with concerns for her welfare.
Officers visited her home in Skegness Walk, Corby, but received no response.
Following this, a missing person investigation was launched, which ultimately led to the discovery of her body in the vehicle in East London.
Northamptonshire Police have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) due to previous contact between the force and the 24-year-old.
“Officers and detectives from the East Midlands Special Operations Major Crime Unit and Northamptonshire Police, working with colleagues from the Metropolitan Police, have been working around the clock to establish the circumstances behind Harshita’s death,” Chief Inspector Cash said.
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Pankaj Lamba is suspected of having killed his wife
Northamptonshire Police
Brella had previously been the victim of domestic violence, with a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) put in place at Northampton Magistrates Court in early September.
The 28-day protection order banned the perpetrator from visiting Brella’s workplace and imposed strict restrictions on contact.
Under the terms of the order, the individual was prohibited from molesting her, threatening violence, or engaging in intimidation, harassment or pestering.
The DVPO, which was served by Northamptonshire Police and implemented by magistrates, also prevented the person from encouraging others to contact Ms Brella.
According to reports, the perpetrator was released following the court hearing but was ordered to pay full costs.
No formal charges against the individual have since been recorded by the court.
More than 60 detectives are now working on the investigation to bring Brella’s killer to justice.
Investigators are conducting house-to-house inquiries, property searches, and examining CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) footage to gather evidence.
Extra police patrols have been deployed in Corby to reassure the public, though officers believe there is no wider risk to the community.
Chief Inspector Cash urged the public to come forward with any information: “If you saw anything suspicious in the past week or have any information, no matter how small, please contact us.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting Operation Westcott or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Information can also be submitted online at mipp.police.uk.
