London: A judge refused bail on Wednesday to Indian lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, accused of sexual assault and human trafficking, saying there was a major risk of him fleeing to avoid trial as he had no strong ties to the UK and the allegations he faced were serious.Sasha Wass, representing Aggarwal, an Indian citizen, at Southwark crown court, pleaded for bail, saying Aggarwal “is not a violent predator attacking women in streets”.“The defendant is a 57-year-old practising lawyer who is hugely respected in India,” she said. She proposed bail conditions and put forward various large bail sureties from a lawyer named Vijay Goel, two men named Nayak and Kumar, Aggarwal’s daughter and from Aggarwal himself.Aggarwal is accused of sexually assaulting three women at a property in Mayfair between May and Aug after they responded to job adverts for a PA. At the time, he was in London on a business visa.On one occasion he tried to slide his hand down a woman’s chest. On another, he kissed and hugged a woman and sexually assaulted her, the court was told.Extra charges of “facilitating travel for sexual exploitation” and possessing £30,000 (Rs 38 lakh) as “proceeds of criminal conduct” were on Wednesday added to the charges he faces.Oliver Wellings, prosecuting, objected to bail, saying: “He could obstruct the course of justice and interfere with witnesses if granted bail.” Wellings said it was unclear “what knowledge Vijay Goel had” and questioned if he was an “appropriate surety” and said there were “concerns over Nayak’s role as chairman of a specialist flight leasing company in connection with the defendant’s flight risk”.Refusing bail, judge Alexander Milne said: “On the face of it, this was a deeply disturbing planned and sinister attempt to draw young women into a position where they had no choice but to comply with his sexual wishes. This suggests a man prepared to abuse his status as a senior and experienced lawyer with money and power to pursue his own ends.”Aggarwal appeared in the dock from Wandsworth prison in a great tracksuit.