Imran Khan challenges FRRO order to leave India in Bombay High Court

Actor Imran Khan, a US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, has approached the Bombay High Court to challenge a notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) directing him to leave India by October 28. The order follows his detention by Mumbai Police on October 10 during a protest at August Kranti Maidan, where demonstrators called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Khan’s legal petition describes the departure order as “illegal, perverse, drastic and bad in law,” arguing that the notice was issued without a prior inquiry, show-cause notice, or specific details regarding the alleged violation of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. His lawyers contend that OCI status does not prohibit participation in peaceful protests and that the action is unconstitutional.

In a separate development, the FRRO has issued a show-cause notice to Khan asking why his OCI registration should not be cancelled due to his involvement in the protest. Khan has 15 days to respond to this notice. Union Minister Chirag Paswan has commented on the situation, stating that while he supports peaceful protests by Indian citizens, the involvement of foreign nationals in India’s internal affairs is “unacceptable.”