Mumbai: The Centre has assured the Bombay High Court that actor Imran Khan will not be asked to leave India on October 28, the deadline stipulated in a ‘Leave India’ notice issued to him over his alleged participation in a political protest.
After the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai, sought time to take instructions, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna scheduled the next hearing for November 2.
Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, appearing for Khan, sought an urgent hearing, pointing out that the actor had been asked to leave the country on Wednesday.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh responded, “We are giving assurance as we are only seeking time”.
Khan, a US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, challenged the notice in a petition filed through MZM Legal on October 17.
He argued that he had not violated the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, or the Citizenship Act, and contended that the notice did not specify the legal provision he had allegedly breached.
The notice followed Khan’s participation in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged mishandling of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On October 10, police detained Khan, his partner Lekha Washington, mother Nuzhat, cousin Zayn Marie and several other protesters at August Kranti Maidan.
They had joined activist Tushar Gandhi in supporting the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) campaign demanding the CEC’s resignation.
After hundreds of protesters were detained, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya sought action against Khan, alleging that he had participated in political activity despite being a foreign national. The FRRO issued the notice on October 15.
Khan has denied violating any rules, maintaining that no protest was underway when he arrived and that he did not cross the police barricades.
He claimed he was apprehended after media personnel surrounded him as he returned to his vehicle.
The actor has also argued that OCI cardholders belong to a distinct statutory category and that the action against him was disproportionate, given that he has lived in India for more than four decades.
