Actor Imran Khan received a leave India notice from the Mumbai office of the Foreigners Regional Registration Office following his presence at a protest site. Days after participating in a Mumbai demonstration seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the actor was served the notice on Thursday. He subsequently filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging a police directive ordering him to leave the country.
Police had previously detained Khan alongside other demonstrators at August Kranti Maidan during a rally supporting the Cockroach Janata Party against the Chief Election Commissioner. On Sunday, the FRRO issued a second directive asking Khan to show cause why his Overseas Citizen of India status should not be revoked due to his involvement in the unsanctioned gathering, which resulted in a case being registered for unlawful assembly.
The authorities have provided a 15-day window for a response, noting that legal provisions require a hearing before any revocation of an OCI card under the Citizenship Act of 1955. The agency acknowledged that initial FIR registration and detention do not automatically serve as definitive grounds for cancelling OCI registration.
The initial notice, dated October 14, followed a complaint lodged by a former Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament. Operating under the immigration framework and the Citizenship Act, the directives cite sections permitting authorities to order foreign nationals to depart. Khan's legal challenge before the High Court argues that the initial order lacked adequate reasoning and failed to provide a proper opportunity to respond.