Four police officers have been served disciplinary notices over alleged failings in their handling of a domestic abuse report by a woman before she was found dead in a car boot.
The body of Harshita Brella, 24, was found in a silver Vauxhall Corsa in Brisbane Road in Ilford, east London, on 14 November last year.
A murder charge has been authorised against her husband, Pankaj Lamba, 23, who is also accused of two counts of rape, sexual assault and controlling or coercive behaviour.
Northamptonshire police previously said they believed Brella was strangled in Corby on the evening of 10 November before her body was driven to Ilford the next day.
Lamba, formerly of Sturton Walk in Corby, is reported to have left the UK after Brella’s death.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had served disciplinary notices on four Northamptonshire police officers – two at the level of gross misconduct and two for potential misconduct.
The watchdog previously said Brella had made a report of domestic abuse to police in August and Lamba had been arrested on 3 September but was released on conditional bail and a domestic violence protection order was put in place.
Brella was born in Delhi and had moved to the UK last April, after her marriage to Lamba in August 2023.
The IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: “Our investigation into Northamptonshire police contact with Harshita Brella, and her husband, Pankaj Lamba, prior to her body being found in November is progressing. We are continuing to gather and review evidence setting out the contact the force had and the actions and decision-making by police officers involved.
“After assessment of the evidence to date, we have served disciplinary notices on four Northamptonshire police officers, two at the level of gross misconduct and two for potential misconduct. The gross misconduct notices on two detective constables cover alleged failings to progress inquiries and communicate with Ms Brella after her report of domestic abuse at the end of August 2024.
“The misconduct notices on two more senior officers relate to their supervision of the case and relevant risk assessments.”
Campbell said such notices advised officers they were subject to investigation and did not necessarily mean any disciplinary proceedings would follow. “At the end of the investigation, decisions will be taken as to whether any officer has a disciplinary case to answer,” he said.
