Family of Harshita Brella say her fugitive husband has escaped to India and is in a 'safe place' as international manhunt continues after the 24-year-old's body was found in boot of a car

The husband of a woman found dead in a car boot worked his way back into her life after being arrested for domestic abuse, her sister has said. With police still trying to trace Lamba, Ms Brella's sister Sonia Dabas told the Sunday Times she is 'sure' he is in India, which is a 'very safe place for him'. Harshita Brella's body was found in the boot of a car in Ilford in east London on November 14 Northamptonshire Police named her husband Pankaj Lamba as a prime suspect in her killing Forensic officers at Harshita Brella's home in Corby, Northamptonshire, on November 17 Ms Brella kept silent about the alleged abuse, but eventually told her family in a telephone call to Ms Dabas on August 28 and she decided to go to the police, the Sunday Times reported. The IOPC said it will investigate Northamptonshire Police's contact with Ms Brella, while an international manhunt is under way for Lamba. IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: 'After assessment of a referral from Northamptonshire Police we have decided to investigate police contact with Harshita Brella, and her husband Pankaj Lamba, prior to her body being found on November 14.