New Delhi:
Days after Harshita Brela, a 24-year-old Indian woman living in Delhi with her husband in the UK, was found dead with her body hidden in the trunk of a car, her family has pointed out the issue of dowry in the case. did.
Harshita Burela married Pankaj Lamba, who has been missing since the murder, on March 22 this year. Harshita’s sister Sonia Brera now suspects that she was murdered for dowry, even though she had given money and money to the Rambha family during the wedding.
“The family gave a large amount of dowry to Mr. Pankaj, but even then Mr. Pankaj was not satisfied and kept demanding dowry from us,” she told ANI.
According to Northamptonshire Police, Harshita Brela was murdered on November 10th. That same night, she was seen walking with her husband near a boating lake in Kobe, where they lived.
Police said Harshita Burela’s body was driven from Corby to east London, about 145 kilometers away, and was found parked with her body on Brisbane Road in Ilford on November 14. It was done. The car is said to have belonged to her husband.
Earlier, her father, Sabir Burela, had also alleged that Lamba and his family were harassing her for dowry. “Mr. Pankaj used to beat her and extort money. Due to regular fights, she separated and went to work in a warehouse. Despite living separately, he continued to I was managing bank accounts,” he said.
But she continued to give money “in the hope that one day things would be normal,” her father said, adding, “She didn’t know this would be the end.”
“On August 29, when Pankaj beat her, she lodged a complaint against him. After that, his family came to her house here and started demanding dowry again. , my father sold some properties to meet their demands and by February we asked for a dowry. “After getting the funds, we were able to fulfill the request.” Sonia Brera said.
Harshita Burela was the subject of a 28-day domestic violence order against Lamba, which had not yet been renewed at the time of her murder.
“She always kept us informed. The case was closed on October 30 when Pankaj paid the fine, but Harshita was not informed about it,” her sister said. insisted.
Recalling her last video call with Harshita, her sister said, “My last video call with Harshita was on November 10, when she said she was preparing food for Pankaj who was coming for dinner.” he said.
“From the next day, her phone was not connected. By then we had a feeling that Pankaj might have killed her,” she added.
Despite police searching for Pankaj Lamba and releasing a series of CCTV images of him, her family claimed that she fled to India the day after the brutal murder.
“We have evidence that he has returned to India and we have told it to the London police. No one will help us here. We have also contacted the local police. , filed a dowry harassment complaint against Pankaj and her parents,” Sonia Brera said. .
It added that Harshita Burela’s body could reach India within one to two weeks.
Her sister also claimed that Lamba’s family knows her whereabouts and is aware of the murder, saying, “I called Pankaj’s mother about this news and she said at least her sister will come back.” she answered calmly. She said she didn’t know where her son was. But on the other hand, they didn’t even try to locate him, and this behavior has raised suspicions.
An inquest into the murder of Harshita Brela opened in Northampton earlier this week and was adjourned until May 21, 2025, although the investigation into the murder continues. Her provisional cause of death was noted at the inquest as “manual strangulation pending toxicology and histology.”
