Imran Khan moves Bombay HC to stall order asking him to leave India by October 28

Mumbai: Actor Imran Khan has approached the Bombay High Court seeking an urgent stay on a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) notice directing him to leave India by October 28, following his detention at a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The petition, filed through advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik, is expected to be mentioned before the court for an urgent hearing on Monday. It seeks quashing of the notice and a direction to the FRRO to produce the records on the basis of which the order was issued.

The FRRO notice, issued on October 14, identifies Khan as a United States national and alleges violation of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, along with rules and orders framed under it. It warns of prosecution if he fails to depart by the October 28 deadline.

Khan’s plea argues that the notice does not specify the provision he allegedly breached, nor does it explain how or when the violation occurred. It says the authorities treated him only as a US citizen and failed to consider his status as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder.

The petition states that Khan was given 14 days to leave the country without any prior inquiry, show-cause notice or opportunity to be heard. It describes the action as arbitrary, disproportionate and unconstitutional.

Khan was detained on October 10 during a protest near August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, where demonstrators demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He was among around 400 people detained by Mumbai Police.

His petition contends that the protest venue was not a restricted area and that OCI cardholders are not barred from participating in demonstrations. It says video footage would establish that Khan did not breach barricades and was leaving the venue when mediapersons surrounded him, shortly before police detained him, his partner Lekha Washington and cousin Zayn Marie Khan.

Khan, who has lived in India since the age of two, argued that if interim relief is not granted, he would be forced to leave his home, family and livelihood. The plea said such a loss could not be compensated in monetary terms.

The petition also said the authorities had not disclosed any security concern or urgency behind the notice and that staying it until the petition was decided would cause no prejudice to them.

The action followed a complaint by BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya, who alleged that Khan’s participation in a political demonstration violated immigration rules and sought verification of his citizenship status.

At the protest, Khan had said he attended as a Mumbai resident and not on behalf of any political organisation. After his detention, he posted a photograph from a police van with the caption: “Apparently, I am going for a ride.”