THE Delhi High Court has refused immediate relief to a man whose wife Harshita Brella was murdered in the UK, after he approached the court fearing arrest on domestic cruelty charges.
The vacation bench of justices Pratibha M Singh and Rajneesh Kumar Gupta heard the petition from Pankaj Lamba, who was challenging a magistrate's May 1 order declaring him a proclaimed offender.
The court told Lamba he could use legal remedies in accordance with the law if arrested, but said the case should be heard by the regular court as various legal issues were involved.
Harshita Brella's body was discovered in the boot of a car in east London on November 14, 2024. The car belonged to her husband Lamba and was parked in Brisbane Road, Ilford.
Brella's family claimed it was a planned murder, alleging that Lamba managed to flee to India just one day after killing his wife.
Her family filed a complaint at Palam village police station on November 19 last year. A case against Lamba and other family members was registered on December 3 under sections of the Indian Penal Code including cruelty to a married woman, criminal breach of trust and common intention.
In an order on June 18, Justice Pratibha M Singh noted: "The FIR dated December 3, 2024, against the petitioner has been registered under Sections 498A, 406 and 34 of the IPC, according to which his wife, Harshita Brella is stated to have died under mysterious circumstances in the United Kingdom."
The court said the matter required consideration as various legal issues had been raised. It noted that Lamba's father was already in custody.
"List this matter before the regular court on July 15. If the petitioner is arrested in the meantime, he may avail his legal remedies in accordance with the law," the court ordered.
His parents, Darshan Singh and Sunil Devi, were arrested on March 19 this year in connection with the case. Lamba had expressed fear of arrest in the case registered at Palam Vihar police station, but the court said the matter should be heard by the regular bench rather than the vacation court.
(PTI)
