Mehul Choksi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal is in custody in London after being charged with four sexual assault offences involving two women.
London: Indian criminal lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, who represents fugitive diamond businessman Mehul Choksi, has been arrested in London and charged with four sexual assault offences involving two women, according to UK court records and police information cited in reports.
Vijay Aggarwal, the Indian lawyer representing fugitive diamond businessman Mehul Choksi, has been arrested in London and is in custody after being charged with four sexual assault offences involving two women.
Also Read
Aggarwal, 57, was arrested on August 11 at a serviced property in Mayfair, London, where he was staying. His personal assistant, Manpreet Kaur, 41, was also arrested and charged in connection with the case.
Both appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 13 and were remanded in custody.
What are the allegations against Aggarwal?
Aggarwal faces four counts of sexual assault under Section 3 of the UK Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Three of the charges relate to an alleged incident involving one woman at the Mayfair property on August 9. The allegations concern intentional sexual touching without consent.
A fourth charge relates to an alleged incident involving another woman on May 26 at the same address.
The charges are allegations at this stage, and Aggarwal has not been convicted of any offence.
Personal assistant also charged
Aggarwal’s personal assistant, Manpreet Kaur, has been charged with two counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of a sexual assault offence.
The charges relate to May 26 and August 9. According to the allegations, Kaur introduced two women to Aggarwal and invited them to the property after posting a false job advertisement.
Two other people, a 23-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman, were also arrested on August 11 in connection with the investigation. They have been released on bail while enquiries continue.
The two women who reported the alleged assaults continue to receive support from specialist officers.
Case moves to Crown Court
The case has been sent to Southwark Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for September 10.
Aggarwal and Kaur remain in custody.
Aggarwal’s connection to Mehul Choksi
Aggarwal is known in India for representing Mehul Choksi in legal proceedings related to the Punjab National Bank fraud case and Choksi’s extradition proceedings.
Mehul Choksi is an Indian-born diamond businessman and former promoter of Gitanjali Gems who is wanted in India in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. Indian authorities have accused Choksi, along with Nirav Modi and others, of involvement in an alleged fraud worth around Rs 13,500 crore, charges he has denied. Choksi left India in January 2018 and later obtained citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. He was arrested in Belgium in April 2025 following an extradition request from India and has been involved in legal proceedings over his potential extradition. His lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, has represented him in several proceedings in India and abroad.
Choksi, who is the uncle of fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, left India in January 2018 before the PNB fraud became public. He later obtained citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda.
He was arrested in Belgium in April 2025 following an extradition request from India and remains involved in extradition proceedings there.
Choksi and Nirav Modi are accused by Indian authorities of involvement in the alleged PNB fraud, estimated at around Rs 13,500 crore. Both have denied the allegations.
Aggarwal has represented Choksi in proceedings in India and abroad, including his legal battle in Belgium.
Earlier reports about London arrest
Some earlier reports had linked Aggarwal’s London arrest to alleged immigration violations and reported that cash had been recovered during a search of his premises.
However, the UK court-related information cited in the latest reports identifies sexual assault charges as the offences for which Aggarwal and Kaur were charged.
The Metropolitan Police have not, in the information cited here, confirmed the separate immigration-related claims.
Aggarwal’s case will now proceed through the UK criminal justice system, with the next scheduled hearing at Southwark Crown Court on September 10.
The allegations will be tested through the court process. Until any verdict, Aggarwal remains legally presumed innocent.
Analysis
The arrest puts the spotlight on a lawyer who has been closely associated with some of Mehul Choksi’s most significant legal battles.
Aggarwal has represented Choksi during proceedings connected with his extradition and has previously spoken publicly about the businessman’s movements and legal claims after he left India.
The latest case, however, is separate from Choksi’s financial fraud and extradition proceedings. It concerns allegations arising in London against Aggarwal and his personal assistant.
The distinction is important because the sexual assault allegations against Aggarwal have not been adjudicated. His involvement in Choksi’s defence does not itself establish any connection between the two cases.
The September 10 Crown Court hearing is expected to be the next significant procedural stage in the case.
Published: 20 Aug 2026, 06:47 am IST
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Related Topics
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.