The Delhi High Court has directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to facilitate communication between Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley and her brother, retired Major Vikrant Jaitley, who has been detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for over 14 months. The order was issued on Monday, November 3, 2025, by a bench of Justice Sachin Datta, who was hearing a petition filed by the actress.

Celina Jaitley's petition sought the court's intervention to ensure effective legal assistance for her brother, real-time and direct communication between them, and regular consular access to monitor his well-being. She contended that despite the passage of more than a year since his detention in September 2024, the Indian government had failed to obtain basic information about his welfare or legal status. She also alleged that the assistance provided by the government was perfunctory and that she had been denied any verified communication with her brother for over a year.

The central government's counsel, Nidhi Raman, informed the court that Vikrant Jaitley had been arrested in connection with a case and that the MEA was in contact with his wife. She further stated that Indian authorities in the UAE had granted him consular access.

Acknowledging the contentions, the court issued a notice on the actress's petition and directed the MEA to take steps to facilitate communication between the siblings and to appoint a nodal officer for the case. The court also instructed the government to ensure that Vikrant Jaitley receives proper legal representation and that his family is regularly updated about his condition and legal status. The court has sought a detailed status report from the government before the next hearing, which is scheduled for today, December 4, 2025.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Indian authorities are providing all possible assistance to Major Vikrant Jaitley and are in contact with UAE authorities regarding the case. He mentioned that the Indian Embassy is seized of the matter and has made consular visits to him on four occasions.

Celina Jaitley, in an emotional social media post, expressed her gratitude to the court for taking up the matter and shared her optimism that she would see her brother again soon. She has claimed that her brother was illegally abducted and detained in the UAE. Her counsel argued that his extended detention without consistent legal access or communication with family members violates basic human rights and international diplomatic protocols.