Harshita Brella police investigated over contact with victim
Four police officers are investigating the interaction between a woman a police officer believes was murdered by her husband.
Police watchdogs said the officers had received disciplinary notices in allegedly handling reports of domestic abuse by Harshita Brella.
Detectives believe the 24-year-old was strangled to death by 23-year-old Pankaj Lamba on the evening of November 10 at Corby, Northamptonshire.
Four days later, her body was found in the boots of silver Vauxhall Corsa, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) in Ilford, east London.
Prosecutors have authorized Mr. Lamba to be charged with murder, two counts of rape, sexual assault and control or coercive conduct.
However, he is believed to have fled Britain.
The Independent Office of Conduct for Police (IOPC) said it is collecting and reviewing evidence about the contact between the troops and victims.
IOPC director Derrick Campbell said there were two disciplinary notices “in serious misconduct” and the two provided “potential misconduct.”
He explained: “After her domestic abuse report at the end of August 2024, the notice of serious misconduct by two detective officers covered the failure to conduct an inquiry and communicate with Ms. Brella.”
“There are two more senior officials’ notices of misconduct related to their oversight of the case and related risk assessment.”
These notices mean that officials are investigating, but they do not necessarily mean that there will be disciplinary litigation.
Mr Campbell continued: “Our idea is to keep in touch with Ms. Brera’s family and everyone affected by her death.
“We have met Ms. Brella’s family to update our investigation.”
The IOPC had previously said Mr Lamba was arrested on September 3 but was released due to conditional bail and a domestic violence protection order was established.
He was told to pay £480 to the police and expired on October 1.
The charges filed against Lamba, who lives in Sturton Walk, were filed in Northampton District Court on Wednesday.
The couple got married in August 2023 and moved to the UK in April 2024.
Ms. Brella’s mother, Sudesh Kumari, previously told the BBC from her home in Delhi that she wanted her daughter to be just.
