Celina Jaitly has petitioned the Delhi High Court for relief for her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has been incarcerated in the UAE since 2024. She sought the court to order Indian authorities to provide him with legal and medical aid, claiming that he had been detained and held without communication or sufficient care. The court has sent a notice to the Ministry of External Affairs requesting a progress report within four weeks, with the next hearing planned for December 4.
Following the hearing, the actress wrote a note on social media. She shared two images with her brother. Celina began her post saying, “Standing for a Soldier: A Ray of Hope from the Delhi High Court in the case of Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly.
The Delhi High Court served notice on the Ministry of External Affairs in response to a petition filed by Bollywood star Celina Jaitly. Her brother, Maj. (Rtd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, has been detained in the UAE since 2024. She has petitioned the Delhi High Court for an order directing Indian authorities to offer legal and medical aid to her brother, who is incarcerated in the UAE.
Celina Jaitly`s lawyers, Raghav Kacker and Madhav Agarwal, argued that her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, was kidnapped and detained in Abu Dhabi. Justice Sachin Datta ordered the Central government to file a status report within four weeks and to appoint a nodal officer to track down her brother`s whereabouts. The case has been scheduled for a hearing on December 4th.
All about the case
On the other hand, the counsel for the central government claimed that he had been granted consular access. Meanwhile, Jaitly has filed an application through counsel Madhav Aggarwal. According to reports, he has been illegally abducted and detained in the UAE for more than a year, beginning on September 6, 2024. He had lived in the UAE since 2016 and worked for the MATITI Group, which provided trading, consulting, and risk management services.
The petitioner claims that, despite the passage of nearly a year, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has failed to get essential information regarding the Detainee, such as his living conditions and legal status. The petitioner claims that she has been refused even one phone contact or verified communication with her brother for more than a year. She believes her brother is suffering from cognitive impairment and lacks competent legal representation.
Celina Jaitly`s appeal for her brother
Celina Jaitly has stated that she has tried every conceivable avenue to obtain MEA`s cooperation and support for her brother`s safety. She filed a grievance on the MADAD Portal and made multiple submissions to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Consulate in Dubai, and even the Minister of External Affairs, visiting with Ministry officials in person at considerable effort and expense. It is also alleged that her brother only made four consular visits in May, June, August, and September 2025. The government has also transferred the complaints registered with MADAD for closure.
The appeal states that the MEA has a continuing constitutional and moral duty to provide protection and aid to its people detained in foreign jurisdictions. The respondent cannot remain a passive observer when an Indian citizen is denied liberty overseas and must aggressively obtain his basic rights, medical care, and legal representation through diplomatic and consular channels, according to the petition.
Celina Jaitly has requested that the MEA facilitate effective legal representation for the Detainee; second, allow direct communication between the Petitioner and the Detainee; and third, ensure regular consular contact to monitor the Detainee`s welfare and keep the Petitioner fully informed. She has also prayed for the protection of the Detainee`s rights and his treatment in compliance with international law and consular access accords.