Delhi High Court has sought response from the Central Government regarding the detention of Major (retd) Vikrant Kumar Jaitley, brother of Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley, in the United Arab Emirates i.e. UAE. The court has directed the Ministry of External Affairs to explore the possibility of direct conversation between Major Vikrant and the court through video call. Vikrant has been in UAE custody since September 2024 i.e. for the last 18 months and the court wants to know itself about his health and needs.
What instructions has the court given in this matter?
The bench of Justice Purushendra Kumar Kaurav has asked the Ministry of External Affairs to provide information by February 12 whether video conferencing is possible. The court wants to know what kind of legal or other assistance Vikrant requires while in custody. During the hearing it also came to light that there was no agreement between Vikrant’s wife and his sister Celina Jaitley regarding the appointment of the law firm. On this, the court made it clear that the personal freedom and right to life of any citizen is above the mutual differences of the family.
Main facts and current situation related to the case
Key details related to this case can be understood through the list given below:
Details Information Period of detention From September 2024 till now (about 18 months) Reason for detention UAE authorities have said it is related to national security Date of next hearing 12 February 2026 Legal aid Dubai firm Al Marri Partners will fight the case for free Media ban The court has banned Celina Jaitley from talking to the media.
The court has reminded the Indian government of its responsibilities under the Vienna Convention. According to this, it is the duty of the government to provide diplomatic and legal help to its citizens detained abroad. After the hearing on Tuesday, Celina Jaitley was seen leaving the High Court premises but following the court order, she did not give any information to the media.