Harshita Brella case: Delhi HC asks husband to avail legal remedies if arrested

New Delhi, Jun 21 (PTI) The Delhi High Court did not give any immediate relief to a man whose wife died in mysterious circumstances in the UK after he approached it fearing arrest in a case of alleged cruelty registered on her parents' complaint following her demise.

The vacation bench of Justices Pratibha M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta, which was hearing the petition of Pankaj Lamba challenging the May 1 order of a magistrate declaring him a proclaimed offender, said he can avail legal remedies in accordance with law if he is arrested.

Lamba expressed apprehension of arrest in the case registered at Palam Vihar police station but the court said the matter should be heard by the roster bench as various legal issues are involved.

In an order dated June 18, a vacation bench of Pratibha M Singh said, "The FIR dated December 3, 2024, against the petitioner (Lamba) has been registered under Sections 498A (cruelty to a married woman by husband or his relatives), 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, as per which his wife, Harshita Brella is stated to have died under mysterious circumstances in the United Kingdom." The court said that the present matter would require consideration, as various legal issues had been raised. It said, "It is also noted that the father of the petitioner is already in custody. Accordingly, list this matter before the roster bench on July 15.

"If the petitioner is arrested in the meantime, he may avail his legal remedies in accordance with the law." Brella's body was recovered from the boot of a car in east London on November 14, 2024. The car, which belongs to her husband, was parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford.

Lamba's parents, Darshan Singh and Sunil Devi, were arrested on March 19 this year.

Brella's family had claimed that it was a planned murder as Lamba managed to flee to India just a day after brutally killing the woman.

The deceased's family filed a complaint at the Palam village police station on November 19, 2024, and a case against the husband and other family members was registered on December 3. PTI MNR RT RT