Actor Imran Khan seeks urgent stay, cancellation of 'Leave India' notice after joining anti-CEC protest

Khan's petition seeks an urgent stay on the notice and its quashing. It also asks the court to direct the FRRO to produce the records on which it based its decision.

In Short

• Notice alleges violations under Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025
• Khan's plea highlights OCI status, absence of specified violation details
• BJP's Somaiya demands deportation, but Khan denies any wrongdoing

Actor Imran Khan has moved the Bombay High Court seeking an urgent stay on a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) notice directing him to leave India by October 28.

The plea, filed through advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik, will be mentioned for an urgent hearing on Monday.

The notice followed his detention at an October 10 protest at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan, where demonstrators demanded Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

Khan’s petition seeks to quash the notice directing him to leave India and asks the FRRO to produce the records behind its decision. It argues that the authorities failed to specify his alleged violation or consider his status as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder.

‘NO DETAILS OF ALLEGED VIOLATION’

The notice identifies Khan as a US national and alleges violations of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and the rules and orders issued under it. It warns of prosecution if he fails to leave by the deadline.

His plea says the notice does not identify which provision he breached, how or when. It also argues that the FRRO treated him solely as a US national, overlooking his lifelong residency rights as an OCI cardholder.

Khan was given 14 days to leave without a prior inquiry, show-cause notice or opportunity to be heard, the petition says.

PLEA DISPUTES GROUNDS FOR ACTION

The petition argues that the protest venue was not a restricted area and that OCI cardholders are not prohibited from participating in protests.

It says footage would show that Khan did not breach barricades and was leaving when mediapersons surrounded him, shortly before police detained him, his partner Lekha Washington and cousin Zayn Marie Khan.

The plea calls the direction to leave India disproportionate, saying it would uproot a lifelong resident over an unproven case involving bailable offences in which no chargesheet has been filed.

In his plea, Khan has stated that he has been living in India since the age of two.

He argued that if ad-interim relief is not granted, he would be compelled to leave the country, his home, family and livelihood. “Such loss cannot be compensated in terms of money or otherwise,” the plea stated.

The plea further said that the authorities had not disclosed any security concern or urgency in the impugned notice. It argued that staying the notice pending the hearing and final disposal of the petition would cause no prejudice to the authorities.

SOMAIYA SOUGHT DEPORTATION

BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya had demanded Khan’s deportation, alleging that his participation in a political demonstration violated immigration rules. He also urged Mumbai Police to verify the actor’s citizenship status.

Speaking at the protest, Khan said he had attended as a Mumbai resident and did not represent any political organisation. He questioned restrictions on movement and alleged attempts to silence people.

After his detention, he posted a photograph from inside a police van with the caption: “Apparently, I am going for a ride.”

- Ends