New Delhi’s legal corridors witnessed a dramatic turn on March 16 when the Delhi High Court closed a high-profile petition filed by Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly. The plea sought access to her brother, Major Vikrant Jaitly, who remains in custody in the UAE. During the hearing, shocking revelations emerged: Vikrant has explicitly refused any contact with his sister.
Court proceedings revealed that Vikrant Jaitly, a former army major, has instructed authorities to route all his legal decisions through his wife, Charul Jaitly. Indian consular officials in the UAE have already provided him access, allowing embassy staff to meet him and assess his situation. Yet, he has turned down further legal aid at this stage.
The court, satisfied with these updates, disposed of the petition but issued clear directives to the Central Government. It must maintain ongoing communication with Vikrant and extend all possible legal assistance under the law. This development underscores the complexities of international custody cases involving Indian nationals.
The saga began when Celina raised alarms over her brother’s mysterious disappearance from a Dubai mall. For weeks, the family grappled with uncertainty, unaware of his detention in an Abu Dhabi facility. Celina’s frantic appeals to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy yielded limited results, prompting her court intervention.
In its initial hearing, the court had ordered the MEA to investigate and report on Vikrant’s status. Now, with his firm stance against family involvement, the matter rests with government channels. This case highlights the delicate balance between personal family ties and individual autonomy in legal predicaments abroad.
As the dust settles, questions linger about the nature of charges against Vikrant in the UAE. While details remain scarce, the court’s closure signals a shift towards official diplomatic handling, leaving Celina’s pleas unfulfilled for now.