Harshita Brella: Footage appears to show husband's last movements before body found in car boot

An international manhunt is underway to find Harshita's husband Lamba as he is still on the run, ITV News Midlands Correspondent Stacey Foster reports

CCTV footage obtained by ITV News appears to show the man suspected of murdering his wife, Harshita Brella, in the hours after she was strangled to death.

The footage was captured on a motion-sensor camera at the back of the home of Pankaj Lamba in Corby between 8.54pm and 11.51pm on Sunday, November 10.

It shows a man, believed to be Lamba, pacing next to a light-coloured Vauxhall Corsa for almost three hours.

Lamba, 23, is suspected by police to have murdered his 24-year-old wife on the same day the footage was taken, before transporting her body from Northamptonshire to Ilford.

Ms Brella's body was found inside the boot of a vehicle on Thursday, November 14. Lamba fled to India several days later and has not yet been found.

In the footage, the man, who appears to be holding his phone, looks up and walks out of view. Fifteen minutes later, the camera picks him up again, loitering next to the car, still clutching his phone.

Nine minutes later, he triggers the camera again, checking his phone once more. Fifty minutes pass before the next recording and the male is still waiting beside the car.

Then, around five minutes later, the man appears to reach for his pocket as he moves towards the passenger side of the vehicle.

At just after 11pm, he looks directly into the camera. The driver's car door is now open, but he walks towards the boot.

He’s now been outside pacing around for nearly three hours. The last clip, taken at 11:51pm, shows him back on his phone, walking towards the road.

In additional footage seen by ITV News, the man was disturbed by a neighbour returning home just before midnight.

The next time the camera is triggered and starts recording, it is close to 4am, when another neighbour leaves for work, but the Vauxhall Corsa is gone.

Northamptonshire Police believe Ms Brella was strangled the same night this footage was taken and that Lamba drove her body to London the following day.

Detectives released the last public image of the couple together, walking near to the Boating Lake in Corby on November 10 at around 6.30pm.

Detectives said they think she was murdered shortly after this walk. A post-mortem examination found she had been strangled.

In the image, Lamba is pictured wearing a black jacket, which looks similar to the one the man is wearing in the CCTV footage.

A murder investigation was launched after Ms Brella's body was found in the boot of a vehicle in Ilford on November 14.

CCTV, also obtained by ITV News, shows Lamba walking along Lea Street in Ilford at 10:39am on the following day - Monday, November 11 - heading towards a tube station.

ITV News understands he took a flight from London Heathrow Airport to Mumbai that day and then flew onwards to New Delhi - three days before Ms Brella had even been reported as missing.

An international manhunt has been launched to find Lamba, but he is still on the run.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Johnny Campbell, said the investigation into Ms Brella's death is continuing "at pace" and they are following "numerous lines of enquiry in order to bring her killer to justice."

“We remain absolutely committed to securing justice for Harshita Brella and her family, and my team of detectives continue to work closely with policing colleagues and the CPS to progress the investigation.

"When we are able to give more information to the general public about our investigation and the search for Harshita’s killer, we will of course do so.

“Family Liaison Officers and myself as the Senior Investigating Officer are in regular contact with Harshita’s family, and we continue to offer our support to them at this extremely difficult time and update them regularly on our progress.”

Police are continuing to appeal to anyone with information to come forward.

Ms Brella married Lamba in August 2023 in an arranged marriage in India. They had a celebration on March 23, 2024, shortly before they moved to start a new life together in the UK.

ITV News understands that Lamba was in the UK on a student visa. Ms Brella joined her husband in the UK in April, and started working at a distribution centre in Corby.

Previous reports of domestic abuse ignored

Northamptonshire Police has since referred itself to the Independent Officer for Police Conduct over previous contact with the victim and her husband.

On August 29, 2024, Northamptonshire Police received a report of domestic abuse by Ms Brella, who was referred to a refuge.

There, she was visited and contacted by officers on a number of occasions throughout the investigation, according to a press release. "The alleged perpetrator was identified, quickly arrested and bailed with conditions," the release said.

On September 5, 2024, a Domestic Violence Protection Notice (DVPN) and a Domestic Violence Protection Order was authorised at Northampton Magistrates Court, which remained in place for 28 days while the investigation continued.

Ms Brella's sister, Sonia, previously told ITV News the British police failed to protect her in the run-up to her death.

She said police knew about the alleged domestic violence against Ms Brella and should have given her sister more support.

Over one month on since her death, Harshita's family are demanding answers. An inquest into her death will take place at Northampton Coroners Court on May 21, 2025.

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