New Delhi: Celebrity fashion designer Anand Jon has been accused of sexually assaulting four more women linked to the fashion industry.

Indian-born 33-year-old Jon was arrested earlier this month at his Beverly Hills home.

He was initially charged with rape, sexual battery, lewd acts and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

He is now charged with 20 counts of various sexual assaults on five women and two girls.

Jon's attorney, Ronald Richards has said that his client ''vehemently'' denies the charges.

Last week, Richards had said that the sex was consensual and suggested the women had falsely accused his client because he did not make them famous.

"I think some of them (the women) were upset that they didn't get as much exposure as they were promised in the fashion industry. They came to his apartment and slept with him. No one forced them to do anything," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Bail for the designer had been fixed at $1.3 million and his first court date is scheduled for April 4.

Jon graduated from the prestigious Parsons School of Design and launched his own label at New York Fashion Week in 1999. He is reported to have dressed celebrity socialites such as Paris and Nicky Hilton, Mary J. Blige and Norah Jones.

According to Jon's website, he is the winner of various fashion awards including a 2002 People's Choice Best New Designer prize.