International
oi-Ruchika Pareek
The
Ministry
of
External
Affairs
(MEA)
has
confirmed
that
it
is
actively
managing
the
case
of
Major
(Retd.)
Vikrant
Jaitley,
the
brother
of
Bollywood
actor
and
former
Miss
India
Celina
Jaitley,
who
has
been
detained
in
the
United
Arab
Emirates
(UAE)
for
over
14
months.
According
to
an
official
statement,
Indian
consular
officials
in
Abu
Dhabi
have
met
Major
Jaitley
on
four
separate
occasions
and
continue
to
extend
all
necessary
assistance.
The
Indian
Embassy
remains
in
regular
contact
with
his
family,
including
his
wife,
and
is
ensuring
full
support
in
compliance
with
directions
issued
by
the
Delhi
High
Court.
Delhi
High
Court
Directs
Centre
to
Submit
Status
Report
The
MEA’s
statement
followed
an
order
by
the
Delhi
High
Court,
which,
while
hearing
a
plea
filed
by
Celina
Jaitley,
directed
the
Central
government
to
file
a
detailed
status
report
within
four
weeks
on
her
brother’s
detention.
Justice
Sachin
Datta
also
instructed
the
government
to
appoint
a
nodal
officer
to
coordinate
with
Major
Jaitley’s
family
and
keep
them
informed
of
all
developments.
The
matter
has
been
scheduled
for
its
next
hearing
on
December
4.
The
Ministry
of
External
Affairs
(MEA)
is
managing
the
case
of
Major
(Retd.)
Vikrant
Jaitley,
detained
in
the
UAE
since
September
2024,
as
confirmed
by
an
official
statement;
Jaitley’s
sister,
Celina
Jaitley,
filed
a
plea
and
the
Delhi
High
Court
has
directed
the
government
to
file
a
status
report
by
December
4.
Background:
Major
Jaitley’s
Detention
in
UAE
Since
2024
According
to
Celina’s
petition,
Major
Vikrant
Jaitley
was
detained
in
September
2024
under
unclear
circumstances.
She
alleged
that
her
brother
was
“illegally
abducted
and
detained” and
that
the
family
has
yet
to
receive
official
communication
about
the
charges
against
him
or
the
progress
of
the
investigation.
Reports
indicate
that
Major
Jaitley,
who
has
lived
in
the
UAE
since
2016,
was
working
with
a
consultancy
and
risk
management
firm
at
the
time
of
his
detention.
However,
no
formal
explanation
for
his
arrest
has
been
made
public.
Celina
Jaitley
Seeks
Legal
and
Medical
Support
for
Brother
Represented
by
advocates
Raghav
Kacker
and
Madhav
Agarwal,
Celina
urged
the
court
to
direct
the
Ministry
of
External
Affairs
to
provide
her
brother
with
adequate
legal
and
medical
assistance.
She
stated
that
despite
repeated
representations
to
the
Indian
Embassy
in
Abu
Dhabi,
the
Consulate
in
Dubai,
and
the
External
Affairs
Minister,
the
family’s
pleas
had
gone
largely
unanswered.
Celina
further
pointed
out
that
her
brother
had
received
only
four
consular
visits-in
May,
June,
August,
and
September
2025-despite
being
in
custody
for
over
a
year.
She
also
mentioned
that
her
complaint
on
the
government’s
MADAD
portal
was
marked
“closed,” even
though
the
matter
remains
unresolved.
Celina
Calls
Court
Order
a
‘Ray
of
Hope’
Following
the
court’s
directive,
Celina
expressed
gratitude
and
optimism,
calling
the
judgment
a
“ray
of
hope”
for
her
family.
“It
has
been
a
nightmare
for
me
and
my
family.
I’m
deeply
thankful
for
today’s
decision
and
hopeful
that
this
will
help
bring
my
brother
home,”
she
said.
The
Delhi
High
Court
has
granted
the
Ministry
of
External
Affairs
time
until
December
4
to
submit
a
comprehensive
report
outlining
the
steps
taken
to
ensure
Major
Vikrant
Jaitley’s
legal
rights
and
welfare
while
in
UAE
custody.
