Celina Jaitly's soldier brother detained in the UAE?
What's the story
Former Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly has approached the Delhi High Court for help with her brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has been detained in the UAE since September 2024. She has alleged that he was held without communication or proper care and sought directions from the court for Indian authorities to provide him with legal and medical assistance. The court has issued a notice to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in this regard.
Legal proceedings
Next hearing scheduled for December 4
The Delhi High Court has directed the Central government to file a status report within four weeks. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for December 4. Advocate Raghav Kacker and Madhav Agarwal represented Jaitly in court. They argued that her brother was abducted and detained in Abu Dhabi without access to proper legal and medical assistance for the past 14 months.
Allegations
Application states he has been detained since September 2024
Jaitly's application states that her brother was illegally abducted and detained in the UAE for over a year, since September 6, 2024. He had been living in the UAE since 2016 and worked with MATITI Group, which deals with trading, consultancy, and risk management services. The Central government has submitted that he has been provided consular access during his detention.
Constitutional obligation
MEA has constitutional duty to extend protection, assistance
The plea filed by Jaitly states that the MEA has a "continuing constitutional and moral duty" to extend protection and assistance to its citizens detained in foreign jurisdictions. It argues that the respondent cannot remain a passive observer when an Indian citizen is deprived of freedom abroad, and is required to actively secure his basic rights, medical care, and legal representation through diplomatic and consular channels.
Prayer
Jaitly asks court to direct MEA to facilitate legal representation
Jaitly has asked the court to direct the MEA to facilitate effective legal representation for her brother, enable direct communication between them, and ensure regular consular contact. She also wants the detainee's rights protected and treated in accordance with international law and conventions on consular access. After the hearing, she shared a note on social media expressing hope from the Delhi High Court in her brother's case.