Husband kept asking for dowry, says sister of Harshita Brella found dead in UK

Days after 24-year-old Indian-woman Harshita Brella’s body was found in the boot of a car in east London, UK, her family alleged that she faced dowry harassment from her husband, Pankaj Lamba. Harshita had been married to Lamba since March 22. Lamba is the prime suspect in the murder case.
According to Harshita’s sister, Sonia Brella, despite giving a substantial dowry at the time of the marriage, Lamba continued to pressure the family for more.
“The family had given a lot of dowry to Pankaj, but still, he was not happy. He kept demanding dowry from us,” Sonia told the news agency ANI.
The Northamptonshire Police investigation has revealed that Harshita was last seen alive on November 10, walking with her husband near a boating lake in Corby, where they lived. Authorities suspect that she was murdered that same night.
Four days later, on November 14, her body was discovered in the boot of a car parked on Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London.
The car, which allegedly belonged to her husband, had been driven approximately 145 kilometres from Corby to Ilford.
Harshita Brella’s body might reach India in a week or two.
“UK Police told us that it will take a week or two for Harshita’s body to arrive, we have signed the undertaking and sent it,” said Sonia.
Harshita’s sister, Sonia, said that Harshita’s in-laws visited their home to demand more dowry, due to which her father had to sell some of their property to arrange the money.
“On August 29, when Pankaj had beaten her she lodged a complaint against him. Subsequently, his family members had come at our house here and again started demanding dowry, due to which my father sold some property to fulfil their demand, and by February we were able to fulfill the demand. We were about to fulfil their demands after we got the money in hand,” she said.
Sonia revealed that Harshita was assaulted by her husband, Pankaj, on August 29, prompting her to file a domestic abuse case with Northamptonshire Police. However, Pankaj clandestinely paid the fine and was out on bail, according to ANI.
“Harshita’s husband assaulted her on August 29, and she filed a case against him. She kept us updated about everything. The case was closed on October 30 after Pankaj paid the fine, but Harshita was not informed about it. She later learned that he had closed the case by paying the fine,” Sonia said.
Harshita’s sister, Sonia, suspects that Pankaj came back to India and is on the run.
“I am sure that Pankaj has fled from the UK to India and is hiding somewhere here. The UK police should also caution Indian police that they must arrest Pankaj if he is here,” Sonia told ANI.
Sonia also suspected that Lamba’s family knows where he is and about the murder.
“When I called Pankaj’s mother about the news, she coolly replied that at least my sister was returning back. She said her son’s whereabouts are not known. But, on the other hand, they are not even trying to find his whereabouts and are calm. This behaviour raises suspicions,” she said.