Imran Khan gets HC relief, won’t be asked to leave on Oct 28
Bombay HC pauses the October 28 'Leave India' deadline for Imran Khan after FRRO assurance; the actor's plea is now listed for November 2.
Bollywood actor Imran Khan has been given breathing room in his legal fight over a ‘Leave India’ notice. On Tuesday, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai, assured the Bombay High Court that the actor will not be asked to leave India on October 28, the deadline in the notice he is challenging.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna posted the matter for hearing on November 2 after senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, appearing for Khan, pressed for urgency because the deadline was the next day.
What the notice says
The FRRO’s notice directs Khan—a US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India cardholder—to leave the country by October 28 over his alleged participation in a political protest. It was issued on October 15, shortly after the actor was detained at August Kranti Maidan on October 10.
Khan, his partner Lekha Washington, his mother Nuzhat and his cousin Zayn Marie were among the protesters detained at the site. They had joined activist Tushar Gandhi in supporting the Cockroach Janta Party’s campaign seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the handling of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The chain began after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya sought action against Khan, citing his alleged political activity as a foreign national. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh told the court, “We are giving assurance as we are only seeking time”—a line that gives the actor immediate relief while the government gathers its position.
Imran’s side of the story
Khan filed his petition on October 17 through MZM Legal. His core argument is that the notice does not stand:
- He says he has not violated the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, or the Citizenship Act.
- The notice does not specify which provision he allegedly breached.
- No protest was underway when he reached the spot, and he did not cross police barricades.
- As an OCI cardholder who has lived in India for more than four decades, he argues the action is disproportionate.
Why this matters
For fans who know Imran from his romantic-comedy years, the news is a reminder that his status in India is more complicated than his public image. OCI cardholders occupy a distinct legal category—long-term residents of Indian origin with foreign passports, not full citizens. A notice like this can pull those lines into sharp focus overnight.
The case also matters beyond one actor. Bollywood is full of foreign nationals and OCI cardholders who live, work and now speak publicly in India. How the court reads the notice—and whether it needs to name a specific provision—could set a precedent for how such residents engage with public causes.
What’s next
Until the November 2 hearing, the relief holds. The court has yet to rule on the notice itself; Tuesday’s decision only keeps the October 28 deadline from taking effect while the FRRO takes instructions and the bench hears the arguments fully.
Source: Hindustan Times
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