Vijay Aggarwal, Mehul Choksi’s Indian Lawyer, Charged With S*xual Assault in London
Prominent Indian criminal defense lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, known for representing fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, has been arrested and remanded in custody in London on four counts of s*xual assault involving two women.
Indian criminal lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, who represents fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, has been arrested and charged with four counts of s*xual assault involving two women in London. Aggarwal, 57, and his personal assistant, Manpreet Kaur, 41, were arrested by the Metropolitan Police on August 11 at a serviced townhouse in Mayfair and remain in custody.
Four S*xual Assault Charges Against Vijay Aggarwal
Vijay Aggarwal faces three s*xual assault charges linked to an alleged incident involving one woman on August 9, and a fourth charge relating to an alleged incident on May 26. The charges are brought under Section 3 of the UK's S*xual Offences Act 2003, which covers intentional s*xual touching without consent. Why Vijay Aggarwal, Mehul Choksi’s Lawyer, Was Detained by UK Immigration in London.
The alleged offences reportedly took place at a property on Brick Street in London's Mayfair area, where Aggarwal was staying. The two women who reported the alleged assaults are being supported by specialist Metropolitan Police officers. Their identities are protected under British law.
Personal Assistant Manpreet Kaur Also Charged
Aggarwal's personal assistant, Manpreet Kaur, has been charged with two counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of sexual assault offences.
According to details reported from the court proceedings, the allegations against Kaur relate to May 26 and August 9. Prosecutors allege that she introduced two women to Aggarwal and invited them to the property after a false job advertisement had been posted. Two other people, a 23-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman, were also arrested in connection with the investigation. They have since been released on bail while police inquiries continue. Mehul Choksi Extradition: Belgian Court Finds 'No Legal Barrier' for Fugitive Diamantaire’s Return to India in INR 13,850 Crore PNB Scam Case.
Vijay Aggarwal and Manpreet Kaur Defendants Remanded in Custody
Aggarwal and Kaur appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 13. Both were remanded in custody, and the case was transferred to Southwark Crown Court. Their next hearing, a plea and trial preparation hearing, is scheduled for September 10. The Metropolitan Police investigation remains ongoing.
Vijay Aggarwal’s Link to Mehul Choksi
Aggarwal is known in India for handling several high-profile criminal and financial cases. He has represented Mehul Choksi in extradition proceedings in Belgium following Choksi's arrest there in April 2025 on an Indian extradition request.
Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi and others, is accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud case involving allegations of financial fraud estimated at around ₹13,500 crore. Choksi has denied the allegations.
Charges Remain Allegations
The charges against Aggarwal and Kaur are allegations and have not been proven in court. Both remain entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until proven guilty. The London court proceedings and the ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation are expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2026 05:09 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
