LONDON — Renowned Delhi-based criminal lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, widely known for representing high-profile fugitives including Mehul Choksi, is facing a deepening legal crisis in the United Kingdom. Appearing before Southwark Crown Court in London, Aggarwal currently faces four formal charges of sexual assault. Alongside him, his legal assistant, Manpreet Kaur, has been charged with two counts of allegedly encouraging or assisting sexual assault.
The gravity of the case intensified during the latest court proceedings, where prosecutors disclosed that the scope of the investigation has expanded significantly. In addition to the four primary counts of sexual assault already leveled against Aggarwal, the court was informed that an additional, separate allegation of rape has emerged against the lawyer. Prosecutors noted that the investigation now involves three distinct complainants, suggesting that the legal proceedings may become increasingly complex as evidence is gathered and verified.
The Southwark Crown Court, presided over by senior judiciary officials, has set a definitive timeline for the resolution of these allegations. The trial has been officially scheduled to commence on March 15, 2027. While the distance between the current date and the trial start suggests a lengthy pre-trial process, the severity of the charges has drawn international attention given Aggarwal’s prominence in India’s legal fraternity.
Aggarwal, who has built a career defending clients in complex financial and criminal litigation—most notably in high-stakes extradition cases—is now finding himself on the other side of the courtroom in a foreign jurisdiction. His legal team and that of Manpreet Kaur have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the specific nature of their defense against the mounting accusations.
The involvement of his assistant, Kaur, adds a secondary layer of scrutiny to the case. By charging her with encouraging or assisting in the alleged offenses, authorities are framing the case not merely as a series of individual acts, but as a potential pattern of conduct that involved complicity.
As the case moves toward the 2027 trial date, legal observers in both New Delhi and London are closely monitoring how these developments will impact Aggarwal’s standing in the Indian legal system. For now, the accused remain subject to the oversight of the British judicial process. The court has granted no immediate updates on bail conditions, but the disclosure of a new rape allegation suggests that prosecutors intend to pursue the case with substantial evidentiary support.
This development marks a stark shift in the career of the lawyer, who is more accustomed to navigating the intricacies of the courtroom as an advocate rather than a defendant. With the investigation ongoing and further details expected to surface as the discovery process continues, the case at Southwark Crown Court remains a focal point of intense judicial interest.
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