Eight-year-old Vishal, last seen 45 years ago on day of Royal Wedding, found murdered – reward offered for information

45 years ago, on 29 July 1981, eight-year old Vishal Mehrotra, his father, younger sister and nanny, watched the Royal Wedding procession of HRH Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in Central London. That evening, he was reported missing from Upper Richmond Road, Putney, London. 

Vishal Mehrotra

Vishal's body discovered

In February 1982, human remains were discovered at Alder Copse, a wooded area near the village of Rogate in West Sussex. Vishal was later formally identified from those remains.

For more than four decades, Vishal’s family have lived without knowing who was responsible for his death.

As an independent charity, we here at Crimestoppers are now urging anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, or how long they have held it, to come forward anonymously and safely with information, which could help solve the mystery of little Vishal Mehrotra’s murder, 45 years after he disappeared from Putney. . 

A reward of up to £20,000 is offered.

You may have thought your information wasn’t important, or that too much time has passed. It hasn’t. What you know could be the vital missing piece. 

Launched to coincide with the 45th anniversary of the wedding of Charles and Diana, it's hoped the offer of this reward will cause memories will be jogged and information to come to light.

Do you have information but don't want to speak directly to the police? You can tell us what you know and remain 100% anonymous. Guaranteed.

Call Crimestoppers free, any time, on 0800 555 111, or complete our quick and secure online form, here on our website:

Give information anonymously

We are separate from the police and guarantee that anyone contacting us will remain completely anonymous. Calls are never recorded, no personal details are taken, and information is passed on without anyone knowing who stepped forward, including staff at Crimestoppers.

“This is a heartbreaking case that has left Vishal’s family without answers for far too long.

"As we mark 45 years since he went missing, we are urging anyone who may hold information, or who may not have spoken about what happened yet, to share what they know with Crimestoppers.”

Annabelle Goodenough, Crimestoppers Regional Manager for South Central East.

Anonymity

Crimestoppers guarantees complete anonymity, meaning that people who call or contact us online can pass on what they know without ever giving any personal details. Computer IP addresses are never traced. Telephone calls are never recorded, there is no caller line display and no 1471 facility.

Claiming a reward

The reward will only be payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers and not to the police. A reward code must be asked for when calling our charity on 0800 555 111. If you contact us via our online form anonymously, the 'keeping in contact’ facility must be used and a reward code must be requested on your initial contact.
 
More details about the rewards process – at the heart of which is ensuring you stay 100% anonymous - can be found here.