Celina Jaitly’s Brother Detained in UAE | HC closes plea after Govt Confirms Consular Access

Today, the Delhi High Court has disposed of a petition concerning the detention of actress Celina Jaitly’s brother in the United Arab Emirates. The Union Government informed the Court that continuous consular support had been extended to him. The Court noted that the detainee had been repeatedly contacted by officials of the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi but had declined legal representation and direct communication with the petitioners.

The matter was heard by a Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, with Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma representing the Union Government. During the proceedings, the Court was informed that embassy officials had been granted consular access to the detainee on multiple occasions and had interacted with him regarding his legal options.

A report submitted by the Ministry of External Affairs indicated that the detainee was also informed about the availability of free legal assistance from a UAE-based law firm. Despite this, he reportedly conveyed that he was not willing to engage any legal counsel at present and preferred that any legal decisions be taken in consultation with his wife.

After examining the material placed on record, the Court concluded that the concerns raised in the petition regarding legal representation, consular access, and communication with family members had already been addressed through diplomatic engagement by Indian authorities.

The Bench noted that the detainee himself had declined legal assistance and interaction with the petitioners. Observing that the government had taken necessary steps, the Court recorded that the detainee had “unequivocally stated that he was not willing to be represented by any lawyer at this stage.”

In view of these developments, the Court disposed of the petition while noting that the Indian Embassy would continue providing assistance as permissible under law.

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