Vijay Aggarwal, a 57‑year‑old Indian lawyer, now faces new rape and sexual assault charges in a London prison after a Crown Prosecution Service hearing on Friday. The accusations accuse him of non‑consensual sexual touching and of arranging travel for women with a view to exploitation, a claim he denies. The case follows his earlier arrest on August 11 at a Brick Street townhouse in Mayfair, where police said he had committed sexual offences on May 26 and August 9.
Aggharwal is not the only accused. His assistant Manpreet Kaur, also in custody, faces a similar charge of arranging exploitation. A third suspect, Hara Tibrewala, was granted bail by a three‑judge bench with strict conditions, though he maintains he is innocent of the same offence.
Justice John Milne denied Aggarwal bail at a Southwark hearing last month, warning that the lawyer could abscond to avoid trial. He described the allegations as "deeply disturbing" and underscored a "planned and sinister recruiting campaign" that targeted young women for a sham personal‑assistant role. The judge noted Aggarwal’s lack of community ties in the UK and his history of traveling there to recruit, despite no legitimate need for a PA.
Before his imprisonment, Aggarwal had represented fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in fraud and money‑laundering proceedings. He was arrested at the Brick Street property after police linked him to alleged sexual offences. The property, a luxury townhouse listed as a Mayfair Residence, has been a focal point of the investigation.
Victims in the sexual assault case remain anonymous under UK law, but court documents describe a woman who was allegedly coerced into a sexual relationship by Aggarwal. The lawyer, his assistant, and Tibrewala are slated to appear before Southwark Crown Court on November 6 for a pre‑trial hearing, with the main trial scheduled for March 15, 2027.