Lawyer who represented Mehul Choksi faces rape charges in U.K.
The Hindu – International
You are logged in
Loading…
You don’t have any Active Subscription.
Subscribed with another email? Logout and Login with that one.
Your active subscription(s)
Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials,
Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription
Products you’ve access to
Additional Subscription Benefits
Account Settings
Need help with your subscription?
Weather News October 10, 2026 e-Paper
The View From India
Looking at World Affairs from the Indian perspective.
First Day First Show
News and reviews from the world of cinema and streaming.
Today's Cache
Your download of the top 5 technology stories of the day.
Science For All
The weekly newsletter from science writers takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in!
Data Point
Decoding the headlines with facts, figures, and numbers
THEdge
At the cutting edge of education and careers
Health Matters
Ramya Kannan writes to you on getting to good health, and staying there
Gender Agenda
Stories from beyond the binary.
The Hindu On Books
Books of the week, reviews, excerpts, new titles and features.
Weather News October 10, 2026 e-Paper
Updated – October 10, 2026 11:42 am IST – London
Image used for representation
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos
Indian lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, behind bars in London on charges of sexual assault, has also been accused of rape, it emerged after a court hearing in the U.K. on Friday (October 10, 2026).
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) referenced the new charges against the 57-year-old along with a charge of “arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation”.
While his assistant Manpreet Kaur, also in a London prison, faces a similar charge, a third accused in the case appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court here on Friday charged with a similar offence, which he denies.
Hara Tibrewala spoke to confirm his name and plead "not guilty" as a three-judge bench granted him bail under strict conditions.
Aggarwal, Kaur and Tibrewala are now due to appear before Southwark Crown Court on November 6 for a pre-trial hearing.
At a bail hearing in Southwark last month, Aggarwal — who has represented fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in fraud and money laundering proceedings — was denied bail by Justice John Milne.
In details that emerged in court, the Delhi advocate is accused of non-consensual “sexual touching” of a female and facilitating the travel of women with a “view to exploitation” – allegations the judge described as “deeply disturbing”.
The judge said he “cannot accede to the request for bail” as there is a risk that he would “leave the country to avoid trial” – which has been set for March 15, 2027.
Justice Milne pointed to a “planned and sinister recruiting campaign" by Aggarwal to draw young women to apply for the “sham” post of personal assistant (PA) in search of "sexually pliant” candidates. He said it was indicative of the fact that the accused was “prepared to abuse his senior position” for his own ends.
As a native and citizen of India, the judge noted that his family, business and life were based there with no “community ties" in the U.K. – a country he extensively travelled to recruit despite having no “legitimate basis” for him requiring a PA in London.
Aggarwal’s barrister, Sasha Wass, described her client as a man of “outstanding character and reputation” who has been forced to share a prison cell at Wandsworth in south-west London since his arrest in August.
All the women referenced in court as the key witnesses in the sexual assault case have anonymity under UK law.
Aggarwal and Kaur, 41, were arrested at a property on Brick Street in the posh Mayfair area of London on August 11 over alleged sexual offences on May 26 and August 9.
The 29 Brick Street property is listed online as a “Mayfair Residence Townhouse”, made up of multi-storey luxury apartments that are available for rent.
Published – October 10, 2026 11:41 am IST
crime
/
United Kingdom
/
sexual assault
Copyright© 2026, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.
BACK TO TOP
Terms & conditions | Institutional Subscriber
Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.
We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.
Fonte: The Hindu – International
