A London court has rejected the bail application of Manpreet Kaur, an aide of Delhi-based criminal lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, who has been charged in connection with alleged sexual assault offences involving two women.

Kaur, 41, appeared before Judge M Weekes at Southwark Crown Court on September 4. Following the court’s decision, she will remain in custody. The court has imposed reporting restrictions on the proceedings, meaning the reasons for refusing bail cannot presently be reported.

Kaur faces two counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of sexual assault offences allegedly involving Aggarwal.

Aggarwal, 57, has been charged with four counts of sexual assault involving two women. Three of the allegations relate to an incident allegedly occurring on August 9, while another relates to an alleged incident on May 26.

One of the August 9 allegations concerns the alleged intentional touching of a woman in a sexual manner without her consent, an offence under Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

According to the prosecution case, Kaur allegedly introduced two women to Aggarwal and invited them to a property in London after a purported false job advertisement had been posted.

The Metropolitan Police arrested Aggarwal and Kaur on August 11 at a property on Brick Street in Mayfair, London, following reports of alleged sexual assaults at the address. They appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 13, where they were remanded in custody before the case was transferred to Southwark Crown Court.

The matter is next listed before Southwark Crown Court on September 10 for a plea and trial preparation hearing. Both accused currently remain in custody.

Aggarwal is a Delhi-based criminal lawyer who has represented several high-profile accused, including fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in extradition proceedings.

The allegations against Aggarwal and Kaur have not been adjudicated, and both remain subject to the ongoing criminal proceedings.