Indian actor Imran Khan has approached the Bombay High Court to challenge a notice directing him to leave India by October 28, arguing that the order is unconstitutional and that authorities failed to properly consider his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.
According to Gulf News, the 44-year-old actor filed a writ petition on Saturday challenging the Leave India Notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on October 14.
Khan has asked the court to quash the notice and suspend its implementation while the case is being heard. His lawyers are expected to seek a hearing before a division bench on Monday.
Notice Issued After Mumbai Protest
The notice followed Khan’s detention near Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10 during a student-led protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Authorities reportedly alleged that the actor had violated immigration rules by participating in the political demonstration.
Khan, a United States citizen who says he has lived in India since the age of two, has disputed the basis for the action. He argues that officials treated him solely as an American national without adequately considering his OCI registration.
According to Gulf News, Khan maintains that his OCI status provides a statutory basis for his residence in India and that ordering him to leave without proper consideration of his circumstances would violate his legal rights.
Actor Cites Constitutional Protections
In his petition, Khan described the notice as an excessive exercise of official authority and argued that his presence near a protest site should not, by itself, justify his removal from the country.
He also cited Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which protects life and personal liberty, arguing that the authorities’ actions violated his rights.
According to the petition, Khan had no organisational links to the demonstration and went to the area out of curiosity about the protests. He said he complied when police informed him that the area was restricted.
The actor also denied allegations that he had incited the crowd. He claimed that authorities had overlooked relevant CCTV footage and said he was returning to his car when he was apprehended after media personnel gathered around him.
These claims form part of Khan’s legal challenge and have yet to be determined by the court.
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Challenge to FRRO’s Authority
Khan has also questioned the FRRO’s authority to issue the notice under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
His petition argues that restrictions around the protest site had been imposed by local police and that the location had not been formally designated as a prohibited area by the central government.
The legal challenge is expected to examine the authority cited for the notice and whether the relevant immigration provisions were properly applied in his case.
Separate Notice Threatens OCI Registration
In addition to the order directing him to leave India, the FRRO issued Khan a show-cause notice asking why his OCI registration should not be cancelled under Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The provision allows the government to cancel OCI registration on specified grounds, including considerations involving national security, sovereignty and public interest, subject to applicable legal procedures.
According to Gulf News, Khan was given 15 days to respond to the show-cause notice. It warned that authorities could take further action if he failed to provide an explanation within the stipulated period.
Khan has asked the Bombay High Court to suspend the exit notice while his challenge is considered.
High Court Hearing Expected
The actor’s petition places the legality of the FRRO’s decision, the treatment of his OCI status and the circumstances surrounding his detention before the Bombay High Court.
His legal team is expected to seek an early hearing on Monday and interim relief against the notice requiring him to leave India by October 28.
The court’s consideration of the petition will determine whether the challenged notice remains in force or whether any interim protection is granted. No final judicial determination on Khan’s claims has been reported in the supplied account.
