The Delhi High Court officially dismissed a petition filed by Bollywood actor Celina Jaitly on March 16, 2026, which sought mandatory consular access and direct communication with her detained brother, Major (Retd.) Vikrant Jaitly. The court closed the plea after the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed it had successfully established consular access with Vikrant nine separate times since his arrest in the United Arab Emirates. During a recent consular meeting, Vikrant unequivocally stated he did not wish to communicate with his sister and formally rejected her legal assistance.
Presiding Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav disposed of the case following the government’s submission regarding Vikrant’s legal preferences. Vikrant, a former Indian Army Special Forces commando, specifically declined a pro-bono legal offer from the UAE-based firm Khalid Al Maree and Partners. He informed consular officials that he prefers to handle all legal decisions exclusively in consultation with his wife, Charul Jaitly.
Vikrant has been detained at the Al-Wathba Detention Centre in Abu Dhabi since September 6, 2024. Prior to his arrest over unverified national security concerns, he had been living in the UAE since 2016, operating the MATITI Group, a consultancy firm he co-founded with his wife. The high-profile nature of the petition brought sustained attention from the Indian entertainment sector to the ongoing diplomatic and legal proceedings.
Following the verdict, Celina released a detailed note on social media acknowledging the court’s decision. She expressed gratitude for the diplomatic intervention, stating it brought her relief to see the government “standing by one of its soldiers.” In the same statement, she disclosed that she is currently managing difficult personal circumstances, citing “ongoing matrimonial proceedings,” as her legal campaign for her brother concludes.