Indian lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, once counsel to fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in fraud and money-laundering proceedings, is now himself facing a widening criminal case in London after prosecutors added a rape charge alongside existing allegations of sexual assault and exploitation, according to details that emerged from a UK court hearing on Friday. The case is drawing attention both for the gravity of the charges and for the judge's stark language about how Aggarwal allegedly recruited his victims, as reported by NDTV.
What happened in court
At a hearing on Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that the 57-year-old Aggarwal now faces a count of rape plus a charge of "arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation". He had already been behind bars on sexual assault charges.
Two co-accused appeared alongside him in the proceedings. Aggarwal's assistant, 41-year-old Manpreet Kaur, who is also being held in a London prison, faces a similar exploitation-related charge. A third man, Hara Tibrewala, appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court charged with a similar offence, which he denies; a three-judge bench granted him bail under strict conditions after he spoke only to confirm his name and enter a "not guilty" plea.
All three are due back at Southwark Crown Court on 6 November for a pre-trial hearing.
The bail hearing: "deeply disturbing" allegations
At a bail hearing at Southwark last month, Justice John Milne refused Aggarwal's application for release. The judge described the allegations as "deeply disturbing" and said he could not grant bail because of the risk that Aggarwal would leave the country to avoid trial, which has been set for 15 March 2027, according to Firstpost.
In his ruling, Justice Milne pointed to what he called a "planned and sinister recruiting campaign" through which Aggarwal allegedly lured young women into applying for a sham personal-assistant post, seeking what the judge described as "sexually pliant" candidates. The judge said the pattern suggested Aggarwal was prepared to abuse his senior professional position for his own ends, and noted the Delhi advocate's lack of genuine community ties in Britain despite his frequent travel to the country for recruitment purposes.
Court reporting indicates the Delhi advocate stands accused of non-consensual "sexual touching" of a woman and of facilitating the travel of women for exploitation. The defence team, led by barrister Sasha Wass, has portrayed Aggarwal as a man of "outstanding reputation", and Aggarwal is being held at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London after his arrest on 11 August at a Brick Street property in Mayfair.
From defending fraud to facing charges
The reversal in Aggarwal's fortunes is striking. As a senior Delhi advocate, he represented Mehul Choksi — the diamond merchant accused of one of India's largest banking frauds — in fraud and money-laundering proceedings. Choksi remains a fugitive whose case has spanned multiple jurisdictions and years of litigation.
Aggarwal now finds himself on the other side of high-stakes criminal proceedings, with UK prosecutors building a case that the judge has already flagged as unusually serious. Cases of this kind are handled under strict UK reporting rules, with victims' anonymity protected by law.
What happens next
The immediate milestone is the 6 November pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court, where the court will set the timetable for the full trial in March 2027. Prosecutors must still prove each count, and Aggarwal, Kaur and Tibrewala remain innocent until proven guilty.
The case also feeds a broader conversation about cross-border accountability for professionals accused of serious crimes. As reported in our coverage of other transnational cases — including the Bai Zhaodong extradition hearing in Thailand and India's push for a global framework against cyber fraud — legal systems are increasingly coordinating across borders, even when the accused are prominent figures in their home countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vijay Aggarwal?
Vijay Aggarwal is a 57-year-old Indian lawyer from Delhi who previously represented fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in fraud and money-laundering proceedings. He is now facing criminal charges in the United Kingdom, including rape, sexual assault and exploitation-related counts, which he is expected to contest at trial.
What are the charges against him?
Prosecutors allege rape, non-consensual sexual touching, and arranging or facilitating another person's travel with a view to exploitation. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed the additional charges at a hearing in London on 9 October. A judge has denied bail, calling the allegations "deeply disturbing" and warning of a risk that Aggarwal could flee the country.
When is the trial?
The trial is scheduled for 15 March 2027, with a pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 6 November 2026. Aggarwal's assistant Manpreet Kaur, who faces similar charges, and a third accused, Hara Tibrewala — who pleaded not guilty and was granted bail — will appear at the same hearings.
