Imran Khan to approach Bombay High Court against notice to leave India: Reports

Bollywood actor Imran Khan is set to approach the Bombay High Court to challenge a notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which has directed him to leave the country by October 28 over alleged violations of the Foreigners Act.

Once filed, the plea will be moved for an urgent hearing, and it is likely to come up before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna.

Advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik from MZM Legal LLP, will represent Khan.

This administrative action follows Khan’s detention on October 10 during a protest at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The actor was among the ones who stood in support demanding for the resignation CEC over the alleged discrepancies led from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which eliminated roughly 13 crore (130 million) voter entries across the country. Khan was accompanied by his girlfriend Lekha Washington and cousin Zayn Marie at the protest.

Following the demonstration, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint at the Gamdevi police station, alleging that Khan, a United States citizen (an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder), violated the Foreigners Act by taking part in a political rally. The Gamdevi police then forwarded the complaint to the FRRO, prompting the immigration authority to issue the expulsion notice against the actor.

According to reports, the FRRO directive cited his US citizenship and flagged his participation in the demonstration as an infraction of immigration and foreigners regulations.

OCI cardholders get a lifelong visa and residency rights in India under the 2005 scheme, but they do not receive Indian citizenship or political rights like voting and running for office.

The Central government has the authority to direct a foreigner to “not remain in India or in any specified area therein” under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.