Indian Authorities Step In as Celina Jaitly’s Brother Major Vikrant Jaitly Faces Prolonged Detention

Bollywood actress Celina Jaitly's brother, retired Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly, continues to languish in UAE detention over national security allegations, prompting swift action from Indian authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reaffirmed on November 7, 2025, its commitment to providing "all possible assistance" to the former Para Special Forces officer, who has been held since September 2024—now exceeding 14 months without trial or clear charges. Celina, the only surviving blood relative after their parents' passing, has been vocal on social media and in courts, decrying the ordeal as an "illegal abduction" that shattered their Raksha Bandhan reunion in August 2024.

Major Jaitly, a decorated veteran honored with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation for Gallantry, relocated to the UAE in 2016 post-retirement, taking up a role in maritime trading and risk management with the MATITI Group. His abrupt arrest outside Dubai's Mall of the Emirates by plainclothes officers in an unmarked vehicle sparked months of silence, with the family learning of his fate only weeks later through fragmented embassy updates. Celina's desperate pleas via the MEA's MADAD portal and direct outreach yielded little until her high-profile petition thrust the case into the spotlight, highlighting the vulnerabilities even elite ex-servicemen face abroad in opaque legal systems.

The Delhi High Court, responding to Celina's urgent plea last week, directed the MEA to appoint a nodal officer for real-time family updates, secure effective legal representation in the UAE, and file a comprehensive status report by December 4, 2025. Justice Sachin Datta emphasized the need for transparency and welfare checks, noting the emotional toll on Celina, who described the ruling as a "long-awaited ray of hope" in an emotional Instagram post. This judicial nudge has already catalyzed progress, with the court confirming Vikrant's estrangement from his wife, positioning Celina as his primary advocate in this protracted battle.

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MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed during his weekly briefing that the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi remains "seized of the matter," having conducted four consular visits in May, June, August, and September 2025 to assess Vikrant's health and conditions. Officials are maintaining close ties not just with Celina but also with his wife, despite family strains, underscoring India's protocol for supporting nationals in distress. Jaiswal stressed that such interventions are routine yet intensified here due to the case's sensitivity, ensuring medical aid, legal counsel, and jurisdictional navigation amid UAE's stringent security protocols.

As the next hearing looms, this saga underscores broader calls for robust consular safeguards for Indians overseas, especially veterans entangled in geopolitical webs. Celina's unyielding campaign has not only humanized the headlines but also pressured diplomatic gears to turn faster, offering a glimmer of resolution for a brother whose service to the nation now demands reciprocal loyalty from it. With MEA's full machinery engaged, eyes are on Abu Dhabi for breakthroughs that could end this 14-month limbo and restore a family's fractured peace.

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