Brother's Unexplained Detention
Actress Celina Jaitly has made a heartfelt public appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his direct involvement in the case of her brother, Major
Vikrant Kumar Jaitly. Major Jaitly, a distinguished former officer of the Indian Army's Special Forces, has been held in the United Arab Emirates since September 2024, a situation Celina described with deep emotion as an unjust and bewildering confinement that has now surpassed sixteen months. The initial incident, as recounted by Celina, involved unidentified individuals apprehending her brother from a mall parking area in the UAE. He was reportedly taken in a black car, and for an extensive period of nearly nine months, there was no official record of his arrest or whereabouts. Celina expressed her profound distress over this lack of transparency, stating that she was unaware of her brother's location and that he was denied any access to legal counsel or communication channels during this initial phase of his detention. This lack of information and basic rights has been a source of immense anguish for the family.
Opaque Legal Status
The legal situation surrounding Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly's detention in the UAE has been marked by a severe lack of clarity and official communication, causing significant distress to his sister, Celina Jaitly. According to Celina's accounts in court, her brother was 'illegally taken and detained,' with no concrete details provided regarding his welfare, his legal standing, or the specific charges he might be facing. It was only as late as June 2025 that the family received information confirming his transfer to the Al-Wathba Detention Centre in Abu Dhabi. Major Jaitly had been employed with Matiti Group International, a company established by his wife, which focuses on human resources, risk management, and information technology. However, despite his professional background and the company's operations, authorities have reportedly withheld any specific allegations or evidence against him. The only information Celina claims to have received pertains to 'national security,' a vague assertion that offers no tangible explanation or prosecutorial details, leaving the family in a perpetual state of uncertainty and helplessness.
Struggle for Assistance
Celina Jaitly has faced considerable challenges in securing meaningful assistance for her brother's situation, encountering bureaucratic hurdles and unresponsive channels. Her repeated attempts to garner support from the Indian mission in the UAE and the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi yielded no substantive progress for a considerable period. The family's efforts to formally register their concerns through the MADAD portal in November 2024 eventually prompted a response, but Celina described these communications as impersonal and unhelpful, adding to her feelings of isolation and despair. The lack of direct, empathetic engagement from official bodies was particularly devastating for a sister desperately seeking information and aid for her detained brother. The matter eventually escalated to the Delhi High Court in October 2025, which initiated some positive developments. The court mandated that the MEA assign a legal firm to represent Major Jaitly in the UAE and also requested that arrangements be made for a phone call between the siblings, a contact that, as of the report, has still not materialized.
Pro Bono Representation
Following a significant court order, a UAE-based law firm, Khalid Almarie Partners and Advocates, has stepped forward to represent Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly on a pro bono basis, a development that offers a glimmer of hope amid the prolonged legal battle. Celina Jaitly expressed gratitude for this gesture, noting the firm's stated belief in 'justice beyond borders and dignity,' a stark contrast to the prohibitive financial demands previously made by other legal entities. Several law firms had initially quoted astronomical fees, amounting to millions of dirhams, which were entirely beyond the financial means of Celina and her family, especially given their ongoing personal and financial difficulties. Celina highlighted the concerning delays in securing legal representation, pointing out that despite presenting multiple options, no firm had been appointed for over sixteen months. She questioned the rationale behind such delays, particularly when a soldier of the nation is languishing in a foreign prison without proper prosecution, emphasizing that timely legal aid should not be postponed under any circumstances.
Emotional Appeal for Intervention
In a deeply emotional appeal directed towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Celina Jaitly invoked his known commitment and support for India's armed forces, imploring him to secure her brother's release. She specifically requested the Prime Minister to 'please bring this soldier back,' emphasizing Major Jaitly's lifelong dedication to the nation, having devoted his youth to its service. Celina argued that if her brother had committed any wrongdoing, a formal prosecution would have been initiated by now, underscoring the suspicious nature of his protracted detention without charges. Drawing a parallel with the recent situation involving former Indian naval officers detained in Qatar, Celina stressed that her brother's case warrants immediate and high-level diplomatic intervention, asserting that 'Our soldiers are not just numbers' and that the nation must rally behind them. Concluding her interview with poignant words directed at her brother, she assured him of her unwavering support and the solidarity of the entire country, vowing to 'move mountains' to secure his return.
