In the heart of New Delhi, a short walk from India Gate, Ms Brella’s sister – Sonia Dabas – and her father, Satbir Brella, find themselves at the Delhi High Court for a second time since January.
At a high court hearing in India today, Justice Sachin Datta described the Delhi Police investigation into the murder of Harshita Brella as “showing utter incompetence.”
In the heart of New Delhi, a short walk from India Gate, Ms Brella’s sister – Sonia Dabas – and her father, Satbir Brella, find themselves at the Delhi High Court for a second time since January.
“I have no option but to be hopeful. There is no power in my hands. I can’t interfere with the judicial system,” said Dabas.
Today, they listened as the judge questioned the lawyers representing the Delhi Police.
“There’s a feeling you are going soft on this”, Justice Datta said. “Why are the law enforcement agencies so helpless?”
Sanjeev Bhandari, the Delhi Police lawyer, responded “We are investigating and working at the highest level to catch Pankaj Lamba.” He asked for two to three weeks extra for the police to file an update in the case.
“I have no option but to be hopeful. There is no power in my hands. I can’t interfere with the judicial system.”
– Sonia Dabas
It’s painstakingly slow progress for the Brella family who are fighting for justice. Harshita Brella was murdered in the East Midlands last November. Northamptonshire Police say her body was then driven to Ilford, in London, in the boot of a car.
Pankaj Lamba, Harshita’s husband, has always been the main suspect. He left the country soon after Harshita was murdered and flew to India. Last week, Channel 4 News revealed new evidence regarding a phone call that Mr Lamba made to a friend, after arriving in India. During the call he disclosed the exact location of a car in London – believed to be the vehicle where Harshita’s body was later found.
In the days after our new evidence was revealed, the Crown Prosecution Service charged Pankaj Lamba with murder in his absence. He was also charged with two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
His whereabouts remain unknown.
“I understand that the judge has slammed the agencies in charge. Because they are not doing their job very well. This is the reason the judge has given them a piece of his mind. I just want the case to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation because I have observed the Delhi Police for 4-5 months… They are just killing time,” said Dabas.
“And as soon as we wake up we are waiting to hear that today Pankaj has been caught. We start every morning with this hope. And this is how four months have passed. They aren’t understanding our emotions. Why not?”
In court in Delhi today, the judge issued an order requesting for an updated report to be filed by the Delhi Police detailing the force’s steps towards arresting Pankaj Lamba. The order recorded the name of the lead police investigator, with a statement from him about the likelihood of locating the suspect in the next three weeks.
“I don’t think any of us have a personal life anymore. We all just hope that he is caught as soon as possible and every day that hope gets broken. And we are doing everything in our hands, with whatever power we have. That’s all. We are just watching our hope breaking a little everyday,” said Dabas. ”
I am very disappointed this morning. With all the hope that I had that something significant would happen today in the High Court, and now we will have to wait another month and a half. How will we endure waiting?”
Whilst Pankaj Lamba’s whereabouts remain unknown, his mother and father have been arrested relating to a dowry death case filed by the Brella family. Shortly after giving Channel 4 News this interview, his sister Uma, absconded.
3mThe broadcast was submitted in court today. Riddhima Aggarwal, the Brella’s lawyer, questioned how the sister could have disappeared when the police could’ve so easily reached her at home.
In court today, the lawyer representing Delhi Police requested an extra three weeks to file further information about Pankaj Lamba’s whereabouts.
Read more here:
Harshita Brella murder: Main suspect wanted by Delhi Police
Remembering Harshita on her birthday
Exclusive: Harshita Brella sent WhatsApps in distress before she was murdered
