Vishal

148
Personal Journals #64

On 29th July 1981, while the eyes of the world are on London and captivated by the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, an eight-year-old boy disappears on his way home from the celebrations. Despite a huge police search he is never seen alive again. Seven months later his partial remains are discovered in a small patch of woodland in rural Sussex, many miles from home. Forty years on, and despite the emergence of new evidence, no-one has been brought to justice for the abduction and death of Vishal Mehrotra and the police appear to have exhausted all their leads. Then one day, as the world is going into lockdown in 2020, a BBC local reporter receives a secretive message from a person who has worked within the police – they tell him they’ve seen something extraordinary that could blow the case wide open.

That call sets in motion an epic true story - an astonishing podcast investigation, three years in the making, that has consequences no-one could have imagined. As the team investigate they track down and question a convicted paedophile, a teacher who fled the UK while being questioned by police in relation to child sexual abuse in the 1990s and has been on the run across the world for over 25 years. Most shocking of all, the series discovers that a UK police force had been aware for years he’d been at the address and had decided not to try to bring him back - while telling Vishal’s family that he hadn’t been located.

The disappearance of Vishal Mehrotra is a case that haunts our age: a case that has repeatedly fallen through the cracks over 40 years – the cracks of our justice system, of our collective attention, of who we choose to listen to and who we don’t. In this extraordinary podcast series, Vishal’s 30 year old half-brother Suchin Mehrotra and investigative reporter Colin Campbell set out to gather the pieces and try to get answers. What they uncover takes them deep into the disturbing underworld of what appears to be a completely separate crime - and sends them halfway across the globe in a search for the truth. Alongside a deeply moving personal story about the toll of this tragedy on one family across generations, what also emerges is a picture of all of us and the world we live in now.

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  • wetherewelikeit
    Terrible Journalism
    I can’t believe the logic leaps the journalist’s make. They then get angry when the police point out very basic flaws in their crazy theories. There is as much evidence connecting the father to the murder as there is anyone. No evidence of any sexual anything but that’s all the show is about. No evidence of race anything but because murder isn’t solved must be racist. Hard to solve a murder where the best we can tell he was murdered around London, In July. His Dad is upset because ultimately it’s his responsibility.
  • stingrayhall
    Insightful & Sad
    Really original way to tell a story - through both a family member and a journalist. So sad that the police seemed so dogmatic (or ignorant?) in their thinking that they couldn’t fully investigate the case when it actually had a shot at being solved.
  • tejuguasu
    Great journalism and host
    Great, though infuriating, podcast! I hope more answers, or at least clues, are uncovered. I appreciate how thorough and dedicated Colin is, but I wanted to say I thought Vishal’s brother was an even better host and enjoyable person to listen to! Would love to hear more from him at some point, if he chooses to here or elsewhere. Thanks for such close attention to Vishal’s case and family.
  • Lozen16
    Award deserving journalism
    What an amazing example of top tier journalism. Such an important story!! The incompetence of those cops is criminal!!!! Just an absolute disgrace. Hope the family gets justice.
  • Surf4evah
    So cops are dumb everywhere?
    Did the cops have some behavioral or psychological studies supporting their belief that paedophiles who abuse kids in their care get satiated, and thus don’t hunt kids elsewhere? It’s preposterous, and the host shouldn’t have said it’s “hard to argue with.” As a straight male, I’ll hook up with basically any lady who I find attractive and is willing. Would the police suppose that if most of my GFs were coworkers, that I’d refrain from meeting women in bars when the opportunity arose? It’s just nonsense, and an excuse for laziness.
  • Mitesh Gala
    Question
    Great listen, tragic story! I’m really curious to know why the family is not able to file a lawsuit against the police if there is a question of negligence.
  • josie729
    Tragic but important story
    One of the best, though heartbreaking, podcasts I’ve listened to recently. It’s told partly by Vishal’s brother, born many years after Vishal was abducted and murdered, and also by a BBC reporter, spurred on by a retired detective who tried but was unable to get local police to do anything. It’s clear throughout that the case wasn’t pursued thoroughly after the initial days. I agree with the retired detectives, however, who believe that it’s not too late and have hopes that the case may be solved—if the police give it the priority it deserves.
  • jcborja85
    excellent reporting on a terrible tragedy
    research, reporting and production style are excellent. such a heartbreaking story.
  • elizzabeth
    Phenomenal
    Relentlessly investigated story told with excellent production quality. Top notch ethical story telling.
  • KateJessie
    Vishal
    I am only part way through, but I am so affected by the courage of Mic and the other men who have spoken up about the predators who abused them. Vishal family touches my heart and I appreciate how respectful of Vishal’s memory they are. My heart aches for Vishal’s dad, sister and brother and all who loved him.
  • ZaraWright
    Well researched and told
    Excellent reporting. Epic failures by police. I hope there will be justice for this dear boy and his family.
  • Ree Deemed
    This story is gut wrenching but very well-done
    A must listen, excellent reporting
  • khsgget
    Hey hsgq has an amazing new game
    He here he can come he he hijab isn’t even worth his money he says he would never do his job he
  • LettaCM
    Cops are worthless
    Those detectives do not know what they’re doing. They are garbage at their job!
  • I’m honored
    You are honored!
    All who worked on this podcast thank you for Honoring Vishal. This was a great podcast and wonderfully investigated by his brother. I’m so glad you exposed the truth. I’m thinking the police tried and are trying to cover up something bigger. Thank you for the time you took to bring some justice to this beautiful boy and his family.
  • mkflores
    Excellent
    Well done! I can’t imagine losing a child. My heart aches for all of the family.
  • UtilitarianFemme
    A story that deserves to be well know
    A narrative arc that’s not unique, but uniquely told. It’s a journey that’s riveting and also deeply meaningful.
  • maagal
    Well done
    Interesting and heartbreaking well Told story.
  • agill010
    Very Repetitive
    Every episode repeats the same thing about the concept of coincidences and racial injustices it gets beat like a dead horse. Story is good though. Could be about a 1/3rd of the length and would be 5/5 stars.
  • Engman19
    Uuugh
    99% of podcast is about the journalist and his father. 1% focused on the story. Thiis story should have been told in 10 minutes. It’s painful to listen to the journalist find anything and everything to make a his a series. One of the worst podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Pass on it, and you are welcomed
  • Aidan McMurry
    Excellent!
    There are so many interesting topics discussed in podcasts but it is always difficult for me to find one that manages to navigate the storytelling so well. Not overly dramatic, well paced, lots of interviews with relevant people - everything is done well and I subscribed just to hear more of this podcast and other BBC shows.
  • Ketumile
    Very well done podcast
    This is such a wonderfully made podcast, albeit about a tragic real life situation. I couldn’t wait to listen to subsequent episodes. Heartfelt sympathies to Vishal’s family and all those boys who suffered abuse.
  • Maggie May 26
    Amazing personal story.
    So many podcasts are plagiarized and you never hear first hand accounts. This is an important and well done story that gives a first hand account.
  • Priya0105
    Very Well researched
    This is an excellent podcast- well researched and sensitively presented
  • Laura092314
    Captivating
    Great podcast that's well worth the listen. I finished it in 2 days. Sending prayers to Vishal's family
  • communitynewspodcast
    Interesting scripted show
    You only have 10 reviews. So here is number 11 and 5 stars. I would like your show more if you would have on Paul and Sasha from Community News by Paul and Sasha.
  • leapingheart
    Tour de force
    I was touched by the father’s perspective, and even his voice told a moving story. He is weary but has not given up. Colin is unassuming yet relentless in his investigations. The breaks were improbable and exciting. This is one of several podcasts that make the local police department look like amateurs. Hearing Colin interview a person of interest in a far-flung location was one of the most electric interviews I’ve ever heard. The storytelling and production are of the finest quality, but it also has a relaxed feel. The episodes are the perfect length. This pod has the depth of a great nonfiction book.
  • KGirl,K
    Well done.
    This is a showstopper. Great work.
  • djcookout
    Excellent Journalism
    This is a fantastic show. My sole issue is that it’s a bit repetitive. If you’ve got to subscribe to listen, you’re likely not joining mid-series and don’t necessarily need so much replay/re-mentioning. But what do i know? Just a thought.
  • Not even into vid games!
    Incredible podcast - binged entire season the day it was released
    5000-stars and much praise for this podcast... the format is unique and weaves refreshing personal-professional perspectives. While mainly focused on one heartbreaking case, other cases and interviews are reported with incredible respect and dignity. I feel both infuriated and hopeful by what I just binged listened to... I'm sad that there aren't more episodes. I would follow this reporting team anywhere.
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