A man accused of murdering his wife in the UK before fleeing the country allegedly rekindled a relationship with a former girlfriend just days after the killing, starting a new life in India while evading an international police hunt.
The Crime and the Flight
The body of 24-year-old Harshita Brella was discovered in the boot of a Vauxhall Corsa in Ilford, east London, on 14 November 2024. Police believe she was strangled at her home in Corby, Northamptonshire, on 10 November. Her husband, 24-year-old security guard Pankaj Lamba, is the prime suspect.
Investigators state that Lamba fled to his hometown near Delhi three days before his wife's body was found. The day after the murder, he boarded an Air India flight to Mumbai, connecting to Delhi and then travelling to Gurgaon on the capital's outskirts.
According to reports, Lamba contacted his ex-partner, Madhu Pandey, from India hours after the killing, instructing her to "be ready to live with him". He is then believed to have met with Ms Pandey and her 11-year-old daughter.
A Double Life Funded by the Victim
It is alleged Lamba had been in a years-long relationship with Ms Pandey, whom he met at a spa, even after marrying Ms Brella in 2023. Ms Brella's sister, Sonia Dabbas, claimed her sister was unaware of this "double life" and that Lamba was financially dependent on his wife, even using her earnings to support his lover.
Just two months before her death, Ms Brella filed a domestic abuse case against Lamba. In a handwritten note, she accused him of sexual, physical, and financial abuse, alleging he controlled all her money.
Police suspect the fugitive forcibly withdrew Ms Brella's savings after her death, transferring the funds to Ms Pandey in India. In March 2025, he was captured on CCTV withdrawing over £5,400 in rupees from various bank branches in a single day.
Life on the Run and the Hunt for Justice
Northamptonshire Police charged Lamba in absentia in March 2025 with murder, rape, sexual assault, and coercive behaviour. Despite an international manhunt, he remains at large.
Lamba reportedly hid in "plain sight" in Gurgaon, renting a small flat with Ms Pandey and her daughter to appear as a "happy young family". He also operated a snack and vegetable stall, often wearing a medical mask. Neighbours described him as an aggressive businessman who priced out local shops. Shockingly, he was seen openly celebrating the Holi festival in March, "with complete abandon and without any fear".
Ms Brella's family are campaigning for justice, alleging corruption may be hindering the search. They believe a relative in the Delhi Police could be aiding Lamba. The family petitioned the Delhi High Court in March, accusing police of inaction.
Delhi Police have issued a reward of ₹50,000 (approximately £422) for information leading to Lamba's arrest. A spokesperson stated: "He cannot hide forever. We will get to him soon." Meanwhile, Lamba abandoned his shop and flat around the time of the court petition and has vanished once more.
