Indian lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, who represents fugitive diamond businessman Mehul Choksi in his extradition proceedings and Nirav Modi in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud matter, has been arrested in London and charged with four sexual assault offences involving two women, according to
a report by The Times of India (ToI).
Mr Aggarwal's personal assistant, Manpreet Kaur, has also been arrested and charged with two offences of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of sexual assault, the report said.
Both Mr Aggarwal and Ms Kaur, who are Indian citizens, were arrested on 11 August 2026 at 29 Brick Street in Mayfair, where they were staying, after the Metropolitan Police received reports of alleged sexual assaults at the property.
They were subsequently charged on 13 August 2026 and appeared together at Westminster Magistrates' Court, according to the report.
Mr Aggarwal, 57, who was born in Delhi, faces four counts of sexual assault against two women, the ToI reported.
Three of the charges relate to an alleged incident on 9 August 2026 at the Mayfair property. The charges allege that Mr Aggarwal intentionally touched a woman, that the touching was sexual in nature and that she did not consent.
He faces one additional charge relating to an alleged incident on 26 May 2026.
The allegations relate to a four-storey, five-bedroom serviced townhouse at 29 Brick Street, Mayfair. According to the ToI report, the property covers about 4,000sqft (square feet) and offers services including a maid and a daily breakfast hamper, with a reported rental cost of 2,000 pounds a night.
Ms Kaur, 41, faces two charges of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of a sexual assault offence.
The charges relate to 26th May and 9 August 2026, the ToI reported. Prosecutors allege that she introduced two women to Mr Aggarwal and invited them to the property after posting a false job advertisement.
The case has now been sent to Southwark Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing scheduled for 10 September 2026.
Both Mr Aggarwal and Ms Kaur have been remanded in custody.
Two other people — a 23-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman — were also arrested on 11 August 2026 in connection with the investigation. They have been released on bail pending further inquiries, the newspaper said.
According to ToI, the two women who reported the alleged assaults continue to receive support from specialist officers.
Mr Aggarwal is known for representing Mr Choksi in his extradition proceedings in Antwerp, Belgium.
Mr Choksi, a fugitive diamond businessman and uncle of fugitive businessman Nirav Modi, has been in custody in Belgium after his arrest in April 2025 following an extradition request from India.
Mr Choksi fled India in January 2018, shortly before the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud came to light. He subsequently acquired citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda.
Indian authorities accuse Mr Choksi, Nirav Modi and others of defrauding PNB of around ₹13,500 crore. Mr Choksi has denied the allegations.
Mr Aggarwal is also counsel for Nirav Modi, ICICI Bank's former chief executive officer (CEO) Chanda Kochhar, AAP leader Somnath Bharti and several accused in the 2G spectrum scam, the Coal Scam,
as per his YouTube channel.
Mr Aggarwal's arrest in London is separate from the PNB fraud proceedings and relates to allegations being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.
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