Vishal Mehrotra: Father of murdered boy denied chance to meet PM

Vishambar Mehrotra believes he is 'running out of time' to get answers

The father of an eight-year-old boy whose body was found in woodland more than 40 years ago has been denied a meeting with the prime minister.

Vishal Mehrotra disappeared from London in July 1981, and was found in Rogate, West Sussex, seven months later.

His father Vishambar Mehrotra maintains his death was not fully investigated.

Mr Mehrotra, who is 77 and has cancer, said he was "running out of time". The Prime Minister's Office said they did not comment on individual cases.

Sussex Police said the case had been the subject of "extensive and thorough police inquiries" since 1981 and the force had maintained contact with the family.

After Mr Mehrotra requested but was refused an opportunity to raise the handling of his son's case with the prime minister, he said he felt "deeply dismayed" and "snubbed".

His letter to Mr Sunak on 2 March coincided with the findings of a new BBC Podcast "Vishal", that included new information and an interview with a paedophile who had fled to Sri Lanka and is possibly linked to the case.

But on 24 April, Chris Philp, minister for policing, replied while he had "huge sympathy", ministers were "not able to intervene in individual complaints against the police".

Listen to Vishal: A nine-part podcast on BBC Sounds

Vishal Mehrotra was walking home from watching the royal wedding parade in 1981 when he disappeared

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said she was "deeply moved and reminded again of the awful tragedy that the Mehrotra family has endured for so many years" after listening to the podcast.

Ms Bourne said she had requested an update on Sussex Police's investigative position regarding potential new information. She said the force intended to contact the team behind the podcast and she would write to Mr Mehrotra as soon as she knew when this would happen.

"I have also offered today to meet or talk directly to the team behind the podcast," she added.

A police spokeswoman said: "We have maintained contact with Vishal's family and are committed to undertaking all reasonable and viable enquiries to identify those responsible for Vishal's death."

She added: "This includes examining any new information or forensic opportunities that may arise. The investigation into Vishal's murder is still open and we urge anyone with information to get in touch."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), completed an independent investigation in 2017 following a complaint about a Sussex Police review of the case in 2005.

An IOPC spokesman said: "It was established that the 2005 review activity conducted by the force was not a formal unresolved case review but a current situation report to identify if a full investigation review was appropriate.

"We found there was no contact with the Mehrotra family to keep them informed of potential new lines of enquiry."

He said the watchdog did not find any officer had a case to answer over breaching professional standards, but learning opportunities were found - in particular over "some confusion about Sussex Police policy surrounding contacting families".