Harshita Brella: family of murdered woman fight for justice

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Against the odds, they're here.

[00:00:03]The fight for justice brought to the gatekeepers front doors. What do you want to say to the police today? No partiality.

[00:00:11]Just I just want everything is fair.

[00:00:16]That's it.

[00:00:17]And within a couple of hours, a development.

[00:00:21]Following submissions from Northamptonshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, the family are excluded from the misconduct hearing relating to two senior officers and their supervision of Harishita's initial domestic abuse report. They say because information will be disclosed which could prejudice the criminal proceedings against Harishita's husband if he's extradited to the UK. It's an abuse of process. It's unacceptable and it's an exclusion of the family and her right to take part.

[00:00:56]How do you feel to be excluded from the hearing?

[00:01:00]Um for a very bad because you know, I travel with my children and my parents. It's give me a bad impression.

[00:01:11]The family say they've traveled thousands of miles to seek justice for Harishita and that process begins with Northamptonshire Police.

[00:01:20]They forget to contact us. They call me on I think in in January. So after that they don't call anything. So we said IOPC to say you police to contact with us. They are not interested to call us and give any update but they know where we are coming here. So every week and sometime in a week two times they call us. So what is this? If we are coming they are not serious about the Harishita case. They are interested to we are coming here. What will we do here? What why?

[00:01:53]Northamptonshire Police believe Harishita Brella was murdered in Corby on the 10th of November.

[00:01:58]They released these CCTV images of Pankaj Lambar in London, likely from the next day.

[00:02:05]Delhi police confirmed to Channel 4 News that Pankaj Lambar arrived in India on the 12th of November.

[00:02:12]Harshitha Brella's body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford 2 days later.

[00:02:18]2 weeks after Harshitha's body was found, the family showed Channel 4 News WhatsApp messages that Lambar sent Harshitha in the months before she died, like this one.

[00:02:29]"One day, if you really have the courage, then try and talk back to me and see what happens."

[00:02:38]Since being in the UK, the Brella family has tracked Harshitha's movements in her last weeks and days alive.

[00:02:45]I can feel voice of my sister there.

[00:02:55]I can't say anything.

[00:02:58]A couple of months before she died, Harshitha reported domestic abuse to Northamptonshire Police. Pankaj Lambar was arrested, bailed, and served a domestic violence prevention order to keep Ms. Brella safe. She's just waiting waiting for the police and no one care and no one will help her that time. No one give support that time which she need.

[00:03:20]So, today's hearing was a closed hearing. The family were excluded from the proceedings and no date has been set yet for the gross misconduct hearing which involves two officers who had direct contact with Harshitha Brella before she was murdered. All this raises wider questions about the scrutiny of domestic abuse cases and ultimately the prevention of violence against women and girls.

[00:03:46]In a statement, Northamptonshire Police say, "Officers from the investigation team have been in regular email and phone contact with members of the family throughout the past 18 months and representatives also traveled to India last year to meet them.

[00:04:01]We remain as determined as ever to secure justice for Harshitha and her family.

[00:04:06]With the ongoing criminal and misconduct proceedings, the need to uphold the principles of natural justice is paramount.

[00:04:14]The police say this is why the family weren't allowed into today's hearing.

[00:04:20]There was a private meeting this afternoon between the family and Northamptonshire police.

[00:04:25]During today's meeting, I was able to update the family on live criminal proceedings and reassure them of our absolute commitment to secure justice for Harshitha. Thank you.

[00:04:36]At one time, Harshitha dreamed of her family visiting her in the UK.

[00:04:42]Now they're here meeting MPs and police officers, fighting to honor her memory.