Imran Khan to fight 'Leave India' order as cops invoke Foreigners Act over protest

Mumbai Police on Thursday issued a notice, asking actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28 after he participated and was detained during the anti-CEC protest in Mumbai on Saturday. The actor is now planning to challenge the order in court.

In Short

• Mumbai police issued a notice to Imran Khan on Thursday
• The actor protested against the Chief Election Commissioner on October 10
• Imran has previously spoken about his US citizenship

Actor Imran Khan is going to challenge the Mumbai Police's summons and the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) order asking him to leave India by October 28. The actor's lawyer, Zulfiquar Memon, said on Thursday that they are in the midst of preparing for a legal battle challenging the (FRRO) order and the Mumbai police's summons against him attending the protest recently. The FRRO order gave the actor 14 days to leave the country.

Once the plea is filed in a few days, it will be moved for an urgent hearing. The plea is likely to be heard by the division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna.

The FRRO's office in Mumbai on Thursday issued the "LEAVE INDIA NOTICE" to Imran, while stating that it has come to their notice that Imran Khan Pal, a United States of America national, has contravened the provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 and the Rules and Orders made thereunder.

The order, which is marked to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, says, "In exercise of the powers conferred under Section (7) Sub-Section (2), Clause (c) read with Section (29) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 (XII of 2025), the undersigned, being the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, Mumbai and Civil Authority, in pursuance of the MHA, Govt. of India's Notification Nos. S.O. 3990 (E) File No. 25022/42/2025-Imm(1) dated 01.09.2025 order that, you shall not remain in India and shall depart from India on or before 28.10.2026."

The order adds, "Non-compliance of this order will render you liable for prosecution under the relevant sections of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025." The sections, in simple terms, mean that the government can direct a foreign national to leave India or prohibit them from staying in a specified part of the country.

Section 29 gives the Central Government the power to order a foreigner's removal from India if they have: Violated any provision of the Act; Violated any rule or order made under the Act; or been the subject of an adverse security report. Government officers can then take reasonable steps necessary to enforce the removal order.

The actor was among those who gathered at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan to demand the CEC (Chief Election Commissioner) Gynaesh Kumar's resignation. He was joined by his partner, actor Lekha Washington, and cousin Zayn Marie Khan. Mumbai Police detained the three during the demonstration.

He is reportedly a US citizen. India Today, in 2011, quoted him talking about his US citizenship. "I am trying to get an Indian passport. The official proceedings are on. I hope I acquire it soon as some big things are on their way. I feel it is my duty to serve my country. I cannot vote here because I am not a citizen, but I do take part in elections by creating awareness about the importance of voting, because I feel I am a part of this country," Imran said.

The actor's lawyer now suggested that he is an OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholder. He also reportedly said that rules do not prohibit OCI cardholders from participating in a protest.

BJP leader urged Mumbai Police to deport Imran

Earlier, BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya, demanded the actor's deportation, claiming he is a US citizen. Somaiya also urged Mumbai Police to verify Khan's citizenship and questioned whether a foreign national should be taking part in a political agitation.

"Actor Imran Khan should be deported immediately (sic)," Somaiya wrote in an X post, calling for the police to check the actor’s citizenship status.

While speaking about joining the protest earlier, Khan told the media that he was there as a Mumbai resident, not as a representative of any political group. "I don't have demands. I am here as a citizen, as someone who lives in this city," he said, questioning restrictions on freedom of movement and the suppression of people's voices. He added that he wasn't part of any organisation and had come in his capacity as a citizen.

On Saturday evening, he had shared a photo from inside the police van after being detained, captioning it, "Apparently, I am going for a ride."

His participation later made his fans anoint him as the real "Ranjhore Ka Rathore", in a cheeky reference to his character in his debut film Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na.

What was the Mumbai protest about?

The gathering on October 10 in Mumbai was called by author Tushar Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's great-grandson, in support of the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms' demand for Kumar's resignation. The protest centred on concerns around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of voter-list manipulation. Tushar Gandhi was also detained while travelling to the proposed protest site and was later released.

Mumbai Police said August Kranti Maidan wasn't a designated protest venue under a Bombay High Court order, and that preventive action was taken to maintain law and order.

Not the first time

Saturday's protest wasn't the first time Imran had used his public platform to speak about an issue that mattered to him. In July this year, the actor criticised the police action against students protesting irregularities in the NEET examination. Reacting to reports of protesters being subjected to a lathi charge at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, he spoke about students working hard only to feel failed by the system, and about the frustration of those who felt their voices were not being heard.

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