Actor Imran Khan Challenges ‘Leave India’ Order, Bombay HC to Hear Plea Today

The Bombay High Court will hear actor Imran Khan’s plea today against a Mumbai Police order directing him to leave India by October 28 after he was detained during a political protest in Mumbai. The case raises questions about the action taken against the actor, who is a US citizen, following the demonstration.

The petition came up before a division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna on Monday. Khan’s counsel, Venkatesh Dhond, and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Union government, requested that the matter be heard on Tuesday. The court agreed.

The 43-year-old actor was briefly detained during a protest at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on October 10. The demonstration was held in solidarity with protests by the Cockroach Janta Party in Delhi, which has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Following the incident, Mumbai Police issued a notice directing Khan to leave the country by October 28. The actor, however, has denied participating in any gathering and claimed he had no connection with the organisers of the protest.

In his petition, filed through advocate Zulfikar Memon and MZM Legal, Khan described the police notice as “illegal, arbitrary” and disproportionate. He has sought its cancellation, a stay on its implementation while the case is pending, and protection against coercive action by the authorities.

The actor has also received a show-cause notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) asking him to explain why his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status should not be revoked.

Police have invoked Sections 7(2)(C) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which empower authorities to restrict a foreign national’s stay in India and order removal in specified circumstances. Khan was warned that failure to leave by October 28 could lead to deportation proceedings.

The High Court’s hearing on Tuesday could prove crucial, as the deadline for the actor to leave India is only a day later.