Brella Murder: Police Seek Details From UK | Delhi News

New Delhi: Delhi Police has issued a letter rogatory (LR) to police in the United Kingdom, requesting information on the murder of Harshita Brella, who was allegedly killed by her husband, Pankaj Lamba, in east London in Nov last year. According to police sources, the relevant court has approved the issue of LR, which was subsequently forwarded to the Union home ministry on Wednesday for forwarding to UK police.A source familiar with the case explained, “We are requesting crucial documents such as case details, hospital records, postmortem report underlining the exact cause of death and any available information on the suspected murderer’s criminal past.“Letters rogatory are formal requests sent by a court in one country to a court in another country, seeking assistance in the investigation or prosecution of a criminal matter.Brella’s body was recovered from the boot of a vehicle on Brisbane Road in London’s Ilford area early on Nov 14, 2024. The primary suspect in the case, Lamba, is believed to be hiding in India. The case is being investigated byNorthamptonshire Police.Based on a complaint filed by the victim’s family in Delhi, the Palam Village police station registered a case under the Indian Penal Code’s sections 498A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) and the cops arrested Lamba’s parents. “We are raiding different locations to apprehend Lamba, who has been proclaimed an offender in the case,” a police officer said.In Feb, Brella’s sister, Sonia Dabas, filed a petition in Delhi High Court, expressing concern that the external affairs ministry wasn’t adequately following up with UK authorities the need to expedite the investigation.The court directed the ministry to appoint a nodal officer to liaise with Dabas and family and the investigating agencies in the UK and facilitate exchange of information and updates in the case.Brella and Lamba’s wedding took place in March 2024, at a farmhouse in Bijwasan. Soon after the wedding, Lamba travelled to the UK, with Brella joining him a month later, in April. On Aug 29, Northamptonshire Police received a report of domestic abuse involving Lamba. He was arrested before being granted bail. Later, a domestic violence protection order was issued by Northampton Magistrates Court, which remained in effect until Oct 1. During this time, Brella was relocated to a women’s refuge for her safety.The cops believe that the woman was killed on Nov 10 and Lamba flew to India, landing in Mumbai before flying to Delhi on Nov 12.Born and raised in Delhi, Harshita attended Pratibha Vikas Vidyalaya in Dwarka and later pursued Hindi (Hons) at Venkateswara College in Delhi University. After completing her B Ed, she began tutoringstudents.