Actor Imran Khan moves Bombay HC against ‘arbitrary, illegal’ notice to leave India

Actor Imran Khan being taken away by the police during the anti-CEC protest at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Terming the ‘leave India notice’ issued to him by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Mumbai as arbitrary, illegal, and unconstitutional, actor Imran Khan on Saturday (October 17, 2026) moved the Bombay High Court seeking its quash. The actor’s legal team, led by advocate Zulfikar Memon, is likely to mention the matter in the Bombay High Court on Monday (October 19, 2026).Meanwhile, the FRRO on Saturday issued another notice to the actor, a U.S. citizen who has an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, asking him to explain why his OCI card should not be cancelled. Mr. Khan has been given 15 days to respond. The earlier notice issued had asked the actor to leave the country before October 28.In his writ petition filed on Saturday, Mr. Khan said that the notice had led to the violation of Sections 14 and 21 of the Constitution. He claimed that the action against him followed a politically motivated complaint registered by the leader of political party and asked why due process was not followed in the matter, questioning how the principles of natural justice can be overlooked.The actor has also sought to know the basis on which the notice was issued. “The LIN [leave India notice] directs the petitioner to leave India by 28.10.2026 without disclosing any reasons, supporting material, or specific statutory contravention. It was issued without inquiry, a show-cause notice, or any opportunity for the petitioner to respond to the alleged violations,” the writ petition stated, alleging that a brief detention of Mr. Khan by the police on October 10 was “unjust.”On October 10, Mr. Khan participated in a protest held in Mumbai seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. He was stopped at the barricade before the August Kranti Maidan and was later detained. Mr. Khan said he learnt from the media later that he was named in an FIR in the matter. The actor claimed that he was being arbitrarily targeted as a public figure and said that the notice itself did not cite any specific breach.Mr. Khan has averred that the notice issued to him reflected “patent non-application of mind.” “Not only is the LIN manifestly disproportionate, if implemented, it would reduce the very principles of natural justice that the Respondents are duty bound to uphold to nothing but a dead letter,” the petition stated.Mr. Khan said that he had not breached any provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act or the Citizenship Act. “No gathering was taking place when the petitioner arrived; he neither entered any restricted or barricaded area nor disobeyed the police direction to leave; and he was apprehended only after the media surrounded him while he was returning to his nearby vehicle,” the petition stated.He said he had resided peacefully in India since the age of two years. “He has deep-rooted familial, marital, educational, and professional ties to the country, and has no criminal antecedents,” the petition said.Mr. Khan is the nephew of renowned actor Amir Khan, and has acted in several Hindi movies. Published - October 17, 2026 11:01 pm IST