Pankaj Lamba was arrested earlier, IOPC said

Harshita Brella’s husband was arrested by police in September after she filed a domestic abuse report, a police dog said.

An international search for Pankaj Lamba has been launched after the exhumation of Ms Brella’s body found in the boot of a car in Ilfordeast London, November 14.

Police believe Ms Brella, 24, was strangled to death in Corby, Northamptonshire, on November 10 and have named Mr Lamba, 23, as the main suspect in the investigation.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it was investigating Northamptonshire Police after Ms Brella made a domestic abuse report in August.

Mr Lamba was arrested on 3 September and released on bail conditions and a domestic violence protection notice, the IOPC added.

The regional director of the IOPC, Derrick Campbell, said that their investigation follows the accountability of the police force.

“We will examine the police’s response to Ms. Brella’s domestic abuse report made at the end of August this year,” he said.

“We will look into further contact with Northamptonshire Police and Ms Brella in relation to this case.”

Mr Campbell said the investigation will examine the actions and decisions taken by Northamptonshire Police in relation to their dealings with Ms Brella.

He continued: “We will contact Ms. Brella’s family to explain our role and express our condolences.

Detectives investigating the murder released CCTV footage of Ms Brella and Mr Lamba on Friday.

The photo showed the pair walking together near Corby’s marina on Sunday, November 10.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the Cottingham Road area that night to contact them.