Imran Khan moves Bombay HC over Oct 28 leave notice
Imran Khan has moved the Bombay High Court against a notice asking him to leave India by October 28 after he joined an anti-CEC protest.
The notice and the petition
Bollywood actor Imran Khan has approached the Bombay High Court to challenge a direction asking him to leave India by October 28. The 43-year-old, who is Aamir Khan’s nephew, holds a US passport and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.
The notice came after Khan joined a protest in Mumbai on October 10 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He was detained by Mumbai Police during the demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Khan’s petition, filed through advocate Zulfiquar Memon and MZM Legal, describes the directive as “illegal, perverse, drastic and bad in law.” It argues that the order was issued without reasons, supporting material or a specific statutory contravention, and without giving Khan an opportunity to respond.
What the plea argues
- The notice asks Khan to leave India by October 28.
- His plea says no provision under current law bars an OCI cardholder from participating in a peaceful protest.
- It claims the direction was issued without inquiry, a show-cause notice or a chance to respond.
The petition is expected to be mentioned for urgent hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna.
The protest and the fallout
Khan was detained with his girlfriend Lekha Washington, his mother Nusrat and niece Zayn, along with around 400 people, according to the report. The protest called for the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
After his detention, Khan shared a photograph that appeared to show him inside a police van, captioning it “Apparently I’m going for a drive.” At the protest, he said he had no demands. “I’m here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city. I’m here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted, why people’s voices are being suppressed,” he told the media.
Why this may matter beyond Khan
Khan’s case sits at the intersection of celebrity, citizenship and civic space. An OCI card gives people of Indian origin a long-term connection to India, but the petition argues that a peaceful protest should not automatically jeopardise that status. A ruling on the legal question could offer clarity for other OCI cardholders on what public and political activity is protected.
For now, the immediate next step is procedural: the court will decide whether to hear the plea urgently. If it does, the October 28 deadline could be paused while arguments are considered. That makes the first hearing the key date for Khan and for those watching the case closely.
Source: Hindustan Times
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