New Delhi: In a significant development, the Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Centre to facilitate communication between Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly and her brother, retired Indian Army Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has reportedly been held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since September 2024 amid national security allegations.
Vikrant Jaitly, a decorated veteran with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation for Gallantry, has resided in the UAE since 2016. The court, presided over by Justice Sachin Datta, issued the order during a hearing on a habeas corpus petition filed by Celina Jaitly. The actor, who appeared in person, urged judicial intervention to address what she described as her brother’s enforced disappearance and subsequent detention.
The bench instructed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure Celina Jaitly can reach her sibling and to enable contact between Vikrant and his wife, also in the UAE. Additionally, the court mandated a status report from the MEA detailing its efforts to assist the family. The next hearing is scheduled for December 4.
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Celina Jaitly’s legal team argued that, as an Indian citizen, Vikrant deserves consular support, emphasizing that the actor is his sole blood relative. The petition highlighted over a year’s worth of unanswered pleas to the Indian Embassy, Consulate, and MEA regarding his whereabouts, health, and legal standing.
Beyond immediate contact, the plea demands diplomatic action to secure medical aid, humanitarian relief, and routine welfare checks for Vikrant. It also calls for MEA engagement with UAE officials to safeguard his rights under international norms, including the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963.
Following the proceedings, Celina Jaitly posted from the Delhi High Court gates on Instagram, hailing the ruling as a “ray of hope” after 14 months of anguish. “After an arduous 14 months, I have finally reached the light at the end of the dark tunnel,” she wrote, alleging her brother endured nine months of enforced disappearance before detention. Addressing him directly, she added, “You fought for us, bhai, now it’s time for us to stand behind you.”
In a heartfelt appeal to the government, Jaitly portrayed Vikrant as a fourth-generation soldier from a lineage of war veterans who devoted his youth to national service. “My government, the only entity I trust, is the Government of India, & I know they will do everything to protect this… holder of the COAS Commendation for Gallantry,” she stated, seeking his safe return alongside financial and legal aid.
The case underscores the challenges faced by Indian expatriates in distress abroad, with Celina Jaitly’s public advocacy drawing attention to consular obligations. As the MEA prepares its response, the family awaits concrete steps to reunite and resolve the ordeal.
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