Harshita’s Family Questions Delay in Catching Her Killer

Last year, on November 14, Harshita Bhela's body was found in the trunk of a car in London.

sarah

Nov 10, 2025 - 21:29

Harshita’s Family Questions Delay in Catching Her Killer

A year after Harshita Bhela was strangled to death in the UK, a pall of grief hangs over her family home in Delhi, the capital of India.

Harshita's mother, Sudesh Kumari, weeping into her dupatta, says, "Why hasn't her killer been caught yet? Neither the UK government nor the Indian government is doing anything." "I want justice for my daughter. Only then will I find peace."

Harshita's body was found on November 14, 2024, in the trunk of a car in Ilford, East London, after her family contacted UK police when they had not heard from her since November 10.

Police believe that 24-year-old Harshita was murdered that same day in Corby, Northamptonshire, by her husband, Pankaj Lamba, who fled to India immediately after the murder and is still at large.

Both were Indian citizens who had moved from Delhi to the UK earlier that year and settled in Corby.

In March of this year, Northamptonshire Police charged him with murder. He also faces charges of rape, sexual assault, and controlling or coercive behavior.

Harshita's sister, Sonia Dabas, is frustrated by the slow pace of the investigation.

"We are very disappointed with the UK police. Perhaps because we are not UK citizens, they are not taking this case seriously. They are sending a message that foreign nationals are not safe in the UK,"

Almost two months before Harshita's murder, on September 3, she had filed a domestic violence complaint against her husband. He was arrested and later released on bail on the condition that he would not harass, molest, or intimidate Harshita.

The Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) expired four weeks later, on October 1.

Sonia accuses Northamptonshire Police of negligence in handling the domestic violence case. She says, "That's when Pankaj realized that the UK police weren't taking this case very seriously and he thought he could get away with murder." An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is looking into the actions of four Northamptonshire police officers regarding their handling of Harshita's domestic violence report and their interactions with her.

The IOPC stated this week that their investigation is complete and has been shared with Northamptonshire Police. Northamptonshire Police say they have until mid-November to respond to the IOPC's findings.

Northamptonshire Police said: "This is a very complex case and now that criminal proceedings are underway in the UK, we cannot comment in detail about the investigation at this time. However, we can confirm that the charging decision has been communicated to the Indian authorities through the appropriate channels."

The Indian government has stated that they are in contact with the UK government regarding this case, but neither side has explicitly confirmed whether an extradition notice for Pankaj Lamba has been sent to the Indian authorities.