Actor and US citizen Imran Khan has approached the Bombay High Court challenging a police notice directing him to leave India by October 28. The court will hear his petition on October 26, after the actor sought cancellation of the notice and a stay on its implementation while the legal proceedings are pending.
Khan has also requested protection against coercive action by the authorities. His petition follows his brief detention during a demonstration linked to protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Bombay High Court Schedules Hearing for October 26
Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan, sought an urgent hearing before a bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna on Monday.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Union government, requested more time, stating that he had received a copy of the petition only that morning. The court subsequently fixed October 26 as the hearing date.
Dhond requested an earlier hearing, pointing out that the notice required Khan to leave India by October 28. The bench asked whether the actor faced any other pending criminal cases. His counsel submitted that he had no criminal antecedents or pending cases.
The court also directed Khan to include the Maharashtra government as a respondent in the petition.
Actor Denies Participating in the Protest
Khan, 43, was briefly detained during a demonstration at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan on October 10. The protest was organised in solidarity with demonstrations in Delhi seeking the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation.
In his petition, Khan maintained that he had not participated in the gathering and had no association with the organisers. His counsel said the actor had reached only part of the way before police detained him and subsequently released him.
The petition, filed through advocate Zulfiquar Memon and MZM Legal, describes the departure notice as arbitrary and disproportionate. It argues that the decision reflects a failure to properly consider the circumstances and raises concerns about the principles of natural justice.
These are the actor's submissions before the court and have not yet been adjudicated.
OCI Status Also Under Scrutiny
Khan's petition follows a separate show-cause notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), seeking an explanation on why his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status should not be revoked.
According to the report, authorities issued the departure order by invoking Sections 7(2)(C) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. These provisions concern restrictions on the stay of foreign nationals and their removal under specified circumstances.
The High Court's hearing on October 26 will take place two days before the deadline mentioned in the notice. The court's consideration of Khan's challenge will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings.
For official judicial updates, visit the Bombay High Court website.
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