Celina Jaitly Makes Emotional Plea to PM Modi Over Brother's UAE Detention
Former Bollywood actress and model Celina Jaitly has issued a heartfelt appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his direct intervention in the distressing case of her brother, retired Indian Army Special Forces officer Major Vikrant Kumar Jaitly. The decorated soldier has been detained in the United Arab Emirates since September 2024 under circumstances that his family describes as opaque and unlawful, with the detention now stretching beyond sixteen agonizing months.
'I Didn't Even Know Where My Brother Was'
In an exclusive and emotional interview with India Today, Celina Jaitly broke down while recounting the traumatic ordeal her family has endured. She detailed what she characterized as an unlawful detention process that began when Major Jaitly was allegedly taken from the parking area of the Mall of the Emirates by unidentified individuals. According to her account, these individuals requested his Emirates ID before escorting him away in a black vehicle.
"He was taken without any explanation. There was no record of arrest, no access to legal counsel, no communication. I didn't even know where my brother was," Celina revealed, her voice trembling with emotion. She emphasized to the court that her brother was "illegally taken and detained," with the family receiving absolutely no information regarding his legal status, his welfare, or any potential charges against him for nearly nine months.
It was only in June 2025 that Celina learned her brother had been transferred to the Al-Wathba Detention Centre in Abu Dhabi, a development that provided little comfort given the continued lack of transparency.
Vague 'National Security' Allegations and Frustrating Bureaucracy
Major Vikrant Jaitly, a retired Special Forces commando, had been working with Matiti Group International, a company founded by his wife in 2016. The firm operates in sectors including human resources, risk management, and information technology. Despite this professional background, Celina stated that UAE authorities have provided no concrete details about the allegations leading to his detention.
"I only know one term — national security. That's it. Nothing else. No charges, no prosecution details," she lamented, highlighting the frustrating vagueness surrounding the case.
The family's attempts to seek help through official channels proved equally disheartening. Celina disclosed that she repeatedly contacted the Indian mission in the UAE and the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi, but received no substantive response. A glimmer of communication emerged only after she filed a formal grievance on the Indian government's MADAD portal in November 2024. However, she described the automated, impersonal replies as profoundly unhelpful.
"I was only hearing from a portal, not from people. For a sister looking for her brother, that is devastating," she expressed, underscoring the emotional toll of bureaucratic indifference.
Delhi High Court Intervention and Pro Bono Legal Aid
The situation saw a pivotal turn when the matter reached the Delhi High Court in October 2025. The court directed the Ministry of External Affairs to appoint a legal firm to represent Major Jaitly in the UAE and also mandated efforts to facilitate a phone call between the detained soldier and his sister—a basic courtesy that, according to Celina, has still not been arranged.
Following the court's latest directive, significant progress was made. The UAE-based law firm Khalid Almarie Partners and Advocates has agreed to represent Major Jaitly on a pro bono basis. "They said they want to do this for our soldier. They believe in justice beyond borders and dignity," Celina shared with gratitude. This development came as a relief after several other law firms had reportedly demanded exorbitant fees running into millions of dirhams, an amount the family could not afford due to personal and financial constraints.
Addressing concerns raised in court about potential family disagreements over legal representation, Celina posed a poignant question: "A soldier of our country is in a foreign jail without prosecution. Why should we delay legal aid any further?"
Emotional Appeal to the Nation and Prime Minister Modi
In her most direct plea, Celina Jaitly invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's consistent vocal support for the armed forces, making an emotional appeal for his personal intervention. "My request to Modiji is to please bring this soldier back. He has given his entire youth to the nation. If he had done something wrong, there would have been a prosecution by now," she argued.
Drawing a parallel to the high-profile detention and subsequent release of former Indian naval officers in Qatar, she emphasized that her brother's situation warrants urgent, high-level diplomatic engagement. "Our soldiers are not just numbers. The nation must stand behind them," she asserted, calling for collective national support.
Ending her interview on a deeply emotional note, Celina sent a direct message of solidarity to her detained brother: "Didi is with you. The whole country is with you. I will move mountains to get you back. Jai Hind." Her appeal underscores a family's desperate fight for justice and the return of a soldier who served his nation, now caught in a complex international legal limbo.
