There is no doubt depraved and powerful people had their grotesque acts at the Elm Guest House “systematically covered up”, MP Zac Goldsmith said this week.

The Richmond Park MP said child abuse and possible murder links to the Barnes guest house were hidden and victims were failed by lack of action.

The claims came after the father of an eight-year-old boy abducted in July 1981 accused Scotland Yard of covering up murder links to the notorious Rocks Lane site.

Mr Goldsmith said: “I have zero doubt that grotesque things happened at Elm Guest House and other parts of London at the hands of depraved and powerful people, and those things were systematically covered up.

“That is why I originally pushed for a Hillsborough-style inquiry, and why I will raise these issues in Parliament for as long as it takes. Victims need to be heard, and criminals need to face the law.”

Vishal Mehrotra disappeared while walking home to Putney shortly after watching the Prince of Wales’ and Princess Diana’s wedding procession.

He was last seen less than a mile from the guest house, which is now at the centre of the Operation Fernbridge investigation.

His father, Vishambar, a retired magistrate, told the Telegraph newspaper he recorded a telephone call in which a male prostitute said his son may have been taken to the guest house in Rocks Lane, Barnes.

Mr Mehrotra claimed he took the recording to the police at the time of his son’s disappearance and they refused to investigate, which he believes was because of a “huge cover up”.

Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “At that time I trusted the police. But when nothing happened, I became confused and concerned.

“Now it is clear to me that there has been a huge cover-up. There is no doubt in my mind.”

Part of Vishal’s skeleton was found in woodland in West Sussex in February 1982 and a coroner said “foul play” was likely to have contributed to his death.

Mr Mehrotra, now 69, claimed police hardly contacted him in the intervening years, despite allegations three boys were murdered at about the same time.

He said: “This guest house was right next to where Vishal disappeared. There were predatory people there who were taking young boys and abusing them.

“It seems to me that it all adds up, so I can’t understand why the police have again failed to get in contact with me.”

Councillor Stephen Knight, leader of Richmond Council’s opposition, said the story of Vishal’s disappearance and murder builds on the “growing body of evidence” surrounding Elm Guest House.

He said: “Even more horrific is that the failure of the authorities to deal with all these alleged crimes at the time are beginning to point to a cover-up at a very high level within the establishment.”

Last week, the Metropolitan Police said it was investigating possible murders linked to the Barnes guest house and former Scotland Yard detective Roger Stoodley said he believed potentially 17 murders were connected to the guest house.

A new inquiry began after an alleged victim of the guest house claimed he saw three boys murdered, including one allegedly strangled by a Conservative MP during a sex game.

Mr Goldsmith has secured a debate in Parliament on Thursday, November 27, about the progress of the historic child sex abuse inquiry.