Mumbai, October 27, 2026: Actor Imran Khan has received interim relief from the Bombay High Court in his challenge to a notice directing him to leave India by October 28. The Centre has assured the court that no action will be taken against him until November 2, when the matter is scheduled to be heard again.
Khan, a US citizen who holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, approached the High Court to challenge the directive issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). The notice followed allegations that he had participated in a protest in Mumbai on October 10. Khan has denied taking part in the demonstration and has questioned the legality of the action against him.
The court postponed the hearing after the Centre sought more time for its response. The assurance that no action would be taken until the next hearing provides temporary protection to the actor as the legal proceedings continue. However, the court has not yet delivered a final judgment on the validity of the notice.
How the Dispute Began
The matter dates back to a demonstration held at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10. The gathering was organised in solidarity with a protest associated with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Delhi. The demonstrations called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations concerning his functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Following the Mumbai incident, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya lodged a complaint alleging that Khan had participated in the protest despite being a US citizen. The complaint was forwarded to the authorities, leading to the issuance of a notice directing the actor to leave India.
The FRRO issued the notice under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and set October 28 as the deadline for his departure. Khan subsequently challenged the directive before the Bombay High Court, arguing that the action against him was unjustified.
The allegations remain disputed, and Khan’s involvement in the demonstration has not been established as a final finding by the court.
Actor Challenges the Notice
In his petition, Khan maintained that he had not participated in any gathering and had no connection with the organisations responsible for the protests. He described the notice as illegal, arbitrary and disproportionate and asked the court to set it aside.
His legal team has argued that the authorities acted without adequately establishing his involvement in the protest. The petition also challenges the procedure followed before the departure directive was issued.
According to the petition, Khan has been living in India since he was two years old and earns his livelihood as an actor in the country. He has also relied on his OCI status while contesting the action taken against him.
The actor has argued that the order affects his rights to equality, life and liberty. His lawyers have sought protection against coercive action while the court considers the matter.
These are arguments made by Khan in his petition. The court is yet to decide whether the notice was legally justified or whether it should be set aside.
Separate Notice Raises Questions Over OCI Status
The dispute has also extended to Khan’s Overseas Citizen of India registration. The FRRO issued a separate show-cause notice asking him to explain why his OCI status should not be cancelled.
OCI status is available to eligible foreign citizens of Indian origin and provides certain immigration-related benefits. However, it does not confer Indian citizenship, and OCI cardholders remain subject to the applicable laws and conditions governing their status.
Khan is contesting the action taken against him, but the separate show-cause notice means that his OCI registration is also under scrutiny. The interim relief concerning the departure notice should not be interpreted as a final decision on the proposed action against his OCI status.
The authorities’ position and Khan’s response will need to be considered through the relevant legal process.
Centre’s Assurance Provides Temporary Relief
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the Centre sought an adjournment after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was unavailable to appear. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh assured the court that no action would be taken against Khan until the next hearing.
The development came a day before the October 28 deadline specified in the notice. The court accepted the assurance and postponed the hearing to November 2, leaving the challenged directive on hold until then.
The next hearing will allow the court to consider the matter further, including the objections raised by Khan and the government’s response. Until then, the temporary protection means that the actor will not be required to leave India under the notice during this period.
The case has drawn attention because it involves a prominent actor, a political demonstration and questions about the treatment of an OCI cardholder under immigration law. However, the immediate legal issue remains whether the notice directing Khan to leave India can stand.
For now, the court’s intervention offers temporary relief, not a final victory. The outcome will depend on the arguments presented and the court’s decision in the proceedings scheduled for November 2.
