Indian actor Imran Khan must leave India by October 28 after joining a protest for electoral reforms. Khan is an American citizen and holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. However, authorities say his participation in the demonstration violated regulations. The Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) issued the notice following the protest in Mumbai.
Khan joined the demonstration at August Kranti Maidan on October 10. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement, organised the protest. Participants demanded electoral reforms and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. They alleged vote fraud, but India’s election authorities denied the accusations.
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Police said Khan joined the protest despite not being an Indian citizen. Kirit Somaiya, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, filed a complaint against the actor. Somaiya accused him of conspiring to create unrest in India. Khan has not directly responded to the allegation or the departure notice.
Before the notice, Khan told reporters why he attended the demonstration. He said he wanted to understand restrictions on freedom of movement and the suppression of public voices. Police briefly detained him alongside other protesters after the rally. He later shared a photograph from inside a police van on Instagram, captioned, “Apparently I’m going for a drive.” The post received more than two million likes.
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Meanwhile, protests have spread across Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of India. Demonstrators continue to demand Kumar’s resignation ahead of crucial state elections. On Monday, opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, led a march from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court in Delhi. On Wednesday, authorities sent two senior CJP leaders to jail for five days over alleged trespassing at a protest site. The party has also called another demonstration for Friday evening.
Khan began his acting career as a child in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak in 1988 and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar in 1992. He later gained fame with the 2008 romantic comedy Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na. His other films include I Hate Luv Storys, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Delhi Belly. The notice comes as Khan returns to acting after more than a decade away, with the Netflix film Adhure Hum Adhure Tum marking his comeback.