Indian criminal lawyer Vijay Aggarwal’s bail application and arraignment in a sexual offence case is listed for hearing before Southwark Crown Court in London on September 23..According to an official communication from the Court seen by Bar & Bench, the matter has been listed as a further case management hearing and is expected to last around an hour.The hearing has been reserved for the trial judge, if one is allocated by then.Apart from Aggarwal’s bail application, the Court is expected to deal with the arraignment of both defendants and further case management issues, including any application concerning pre-recorded cross-examination of witnesses..The Court has also fixed March 15, 2027 for commencement of the trial. The trial is estimated to continue for four weeks.Aggarwal, who has represented fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, is presently facing four counts of sexual assault in the United Kingdom.His assistant and co-accused Manpreet Kaur has been charged with two counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting sexual assault. Kaur’s bail application has been rejected..The Metropolitan Police had earlier said that its officers had gone to the Aggarwal's rented property on Brick Street in Mayfair on August 11 following reports of sexual assaults. Aggarwal was subsequently arrested and charged.At a hearing before Southwark Crown Court on September 10, prosecutors also informed the Court that the ongoing investigation involved three complainants and that an additional allegation of rape has emerged.However, the rape allegation is distinct from the four sexual assault charges already reported against Aggarwal. Publicly available material so far indicates that the allegation was disclosed to the Court as part of the continuing investigation.The prosecution earlier sought more time before finalising the indictment, citing the complexity of the investigation.Aggarwal’s counsel had opposed his continued detention and described him as a person of exemplary good character..Aggarwal remains in custody. His bail application will now come up before the Court on September 23.
