Actor Celina Jaitly told the Delhi High Court on Thursday that she’s been “stonewalled” by her sister-in-law Charul Jaitly while desperately trying to help her brother, Major (Retd) Vikrant Jaitly, who’s been locked up in the UAE for 18 months. The accusation sparked a courtroom confrontation, with Charul firing back that Celina turned their family’s private pain into a “media circus” without consent.
The February 12 hearing before Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav laid bare a family divided. Celina appeared physically in court, her frustration palpable. “I came before the court in 2025 because I was stonewalled by the wife. I just want help for Vikrant,” she said, adding that her own marriage has “fallen apart” amid this 18-month ordeal.
Charul, joining via video call, didn’t hold back either. When asked why she wouldn’t work with Celina in “tandem” to free her husband, she responded sharply: “Without consent, our life and relationship have been made a circus, a media joke.”
Court Tells Family To Put Differences Aside
Justice Kaurav’s message was blunt: this isn’t about family drama. It’s about freeing a man detained abroad. The judge asked both women to “re-establish relations” and work together, emphasizing that Vikrant’s fate depends on unified action, not courtroom blame games.
When the judge asked Charul directly if she wanted her husband released from prison, she replied, “Why would a wife not want that?” But the court pressed harder—why hasn’t she signed the power of attorney for a UAE law firm to represent Vikrant?
Charul insisted she’s coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Embassy. She claimed a law firm’s name was shared that very morning, and she’d been in touch with Celina since 2024 despite “strained relations” with her brother.
MEA Caught In The Middle
CGSC Nidhi Raman, representing the MEA, described the bureaucratic nightmare to the court, according to Bar and Bench: “Vikrant is regularly interacting; the next is on February 13. He refuses to interact with her. He interacts with wife, but she refuses signing the power of attorney. Ministry is stuck in between.”
The MEA’s solution? Present Vikrant with four lawyer options—combining names suggested by both his wife and sister—and let him choose. The next interaction with Vikrant is scheduled for February 13.
National Security Angle Emerges
The case took a darker turn when Charul’s counsel revealed private chats between the sisters-in-law. In those messages, Celina allegedly mentioned that “national security of the UAE” was involved in Vikrant’s detention. The counsel questioned why Celina approached the court instead of working through proper Embassy channels.
It’s unclear what specific national security concerns might be at play, but the mention adds weight to why Vikrant remains detained after 18 months.
No Media Gag Order, But Boundaries Set
Charul’s lawyer tried getting a restraint on media reporting. The court refused. Justice Kaurav made it clear: no gag order would be issued on the press. Media can report what happens in open court—a position the judge had already taken during the February 10 hearing.
However, both Celina and Charul were explicitly directed not to interact with the media without court permission. The irony wasn’t lost—the very “media circus” Charul complained about would continue, just with court-approved boundaries.
Where The Case Stands Now
The court noted there’s nothing on record showing Charul isn’t working toward Vikrant’s release. Any further legal moves depend entirely on Vikrant himself, Justice Kaurav observed. The case has been adjourned to February 17.
On February 3, the Delhi High Court had already directed the MEA to issue orders for a law firm to represent Vikrant in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. But nearly two weeks later, coordination between family members remains the biggest obstacle—not legal procedure.
For Celina, the cost has been personal. A marriage falling apart. Public accusations. Court appearances. For Charul, it’s unwanted media attention and strained family ties. And caught between them: Vikrant, still detained, still waiting.
