Indian actor Imran Khan challenged a notice directing him to leave India by October 28, arguing that the order was unconstitutional and that authorities failed to properly consider his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.
According to Gulf News, the 44-year-old actor filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court on Saturday against the Leave India Notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on October 14.
The notice followed the actor's detention near Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan during a student-led protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on October 10 after Khan allegedly violated immigration rules by joining the political protest.
The actor, a United States citizen who said he has lived in India since the age of two, argued that authorities had treated him solely as an American national while failing to account for his OCI registration. According to Gulf News, he contended that his OCI status provided a statutory basis for his residence in India and that his removal without due process would violate his rights, including protections under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
In his petition, he described the notice as an excessive use of official power. He argued that simply being present near a protest site or expressing concern about restrictions on movement should not be grounds for ordering his departure from India.
According to Gulf News, the actor maintained that he had no organisational links to the demonstration and had gone to the area out of curiosity about the protests. He said he complied when police informed him that the area was restricted.
Khan also disputed allegations that he had incited the crowd, claiming that authorities had overlooked CCTV footage relevant to the incident. According to the petition, he was returning to his car when he was apprehended after media personnel gathered around him.
The petition also questioned the FRRO's authority to issue the notice under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Khan argued that the restrictions around the protest had been imposed by local police and that the site was not a location formally designated as prohibited by the central government.
The FRRO also issued a show-cause notice asking the actor to explain why his OCI registration should not be cancelled under Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The provision allows the government to cancel OCI registration on specified grounds, including national security, sovereignty and public interest, subject to applicable procedural safeguards.
According to Gulf News, Khan was given 15 days to respond. The notice also warned that authorities could proceed with further action if Khan failed to submit an explanation within the stipulated period.
The actor asked the Bombay High Court to quash the notice and suspend its implementation while the case is heard. Khan sought an interim stay on the order, with his lawyers expected to seek a hearing before a Bombay High Court division bench on Monday.
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