Celina Jaitly Gets Relief As Delhi High Court Grants MEA Four Weeks for Brother’s Consular Access In UAE

In a development that brings some relief to actor Celina Jaitly, the Delhi High Court has given the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) four weeks to secure consular access to her brother, Retired Major Vikrant Jaitly, who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since September 2024. The court’s order came after the Centre’s counsel informed Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav that authorities in the UAE had denied a recent request for consular access on February 13. The bench agreed to grant time to the MEA and the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to pursue approval through diplomatic channels and asked them to file a status report within four weeks.

Celina’s petition is part of a long-running legal fight for her brother, whom she alleges was “illegally abducted and detained” in the UAE, with no clear information provided about his condition or legal status. The court proceedings have also dealt with issues of legal representation for Major Jaitly, with the High Court previously directing the MEA to issue an order to a law firm willing to represent him pro bono in the UAE.

During the hearing, Vikrant’s wife, Charul Jaitly, submitted a note to the court, which was shared with both Celina and the MEA as part of the proceedings. She appeared before the court and sought that the matter be heard in camera, but the request was declined.

The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for March 16. The High Court has also asked the MEA to ensure that information about the case, including the note and petitions, is shared with Major Jaitly once access is granted.

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