Actress and former Miss India Celina Jaitly shared an emotional note on social media on Monday after the Delhi High Court heard her plea for relief for her brother, Major (retd) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since 2024.
In her post titled “A State for a Soldier: Ray of Hope from Delhi High Court in Major (Retired) Vikrant Kumar Jaitly’s Case”, Jaitly described the court’s intervention as a “ray of hope” for her family. She also posted photos with her brother and expressed cautious optimism after what she called “an encouraging first step in our long fight for justice.”
The court, headed by Justice Sachin Datta, issued a notice to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and directed it to submit a status report within four weeks detailing the steps taken to provide legal and medical assistance to the retired army officer. The next hearing is scheduled for December 4 Bar and bench.
Jaitla’s petition alleges that her brother was kidnapped and detained in Abu Dhabi more than 14 months ago without due process or adequate legal access. Despite numerous appeals, she claimed, Indian authorities have been unable to provide updates on his welfare or confirm his legal status.
Her counsel, advocates Raghav Kacker and Madhav Agarwal, told the court that Major Jaitly – who had lived in the UAE since 2016 and worked with the MATITI Group – had shown signs of cognitive decline and had been held without verified communication with his family for more than a year.
The MEA informed the court that consular access was granted four times between May and September this year.
In her post, Celina wrote that she fought not just for her brother, but for “every Indian citizen detained abroad without access to fair representation or humane treatment.” She urged the authorities to ensure accountability and empathy in handling such cases.
“Today’s words from the Delhi High Court were not just a legal development – they were a lifeline,” she wrote. “This is the first time I feel hope that my brother will get the justice and dignity he deserves.
