Order for actor Imran Khan to leave India stayed

Bangla Press Desk: A court has stayed the directive for Bollywood actor Imran Khan to leave India, providing him with temporary relief regarding the notice issued against him. The court further stated that no action will be taken against him until the next hearing, scheduled for November 2.

According to a report by NDTV, Imran Khan is a U.S. citizen and holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. He had challenged a notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which had ordered him to leave India by October 28.

The report states that on October 10, Imran Khan participated in a protest in Delhi organized by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party.’ The protest demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging one-sided procedures and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the electoral rolls. It was for this reason that the notice was issued against him.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a police complaint, alleging that the actor had participated in a protest despite being a U.S. citizen—an act deemed a violation of regulations. The complaint was subsequently forwarded to the FRRO, which issued a departure notice under the Immigration and Foreigners Act. Section 7 of this Act empowers the Indian government to issue orders, directives, or instructions to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the entry, exit, presence, or movement of foreign nationals within the country.

On October 17, the actor approached the High Court, asserting that he had not participated in any public gathering and had no affiliation with the organizers of the protest. Consequently, he argued that the notice was “illegal, arbitrary, perverse, and an extreme measure.”

Following the actor’s move to approach the court, the FRRO issued a separate show-cause notice, asking why his OCI status should not be revoked. During a court hearing on Tuesday (October 27), Imran Khan’s lawyer, Venkatesh, raised the issue regarding the October 28 deadline. In response, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh provided an assurance that no coercive action would be taken. Subsequently, a bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Adwaita Sethna announced that the next hearing would take place on November 2.

It is alleged that Imran Khan, his companion Lekha Washington, and his sister Jane Marie Khan participated in a protest held at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. The police had also briefly detained them. Later, the actor posted a photo on social media—taken from inside a police van—with the caption, "Looks like I’m going for a drive."

Furthermore, at the protest site, the Bollywood star remarked, "I have no specific demands. I have come here as a citizen—as an ordinary person living in this city. I am here to understand why the freedom of movement is being curtailed. I am here precisely because people’s voices are being suppressed."

Bp/Sp