Actor Imran Khan has filed a petition with the Bombay High Court in response to a notice issued by the Mumbai Police, which directs him to leave India by October 28. This legal action comes after Khan allegedly participated in a political demonstration, prompting the police to take action against him. The news agency Press Trust of India reported on this development, highlighting the actor’s status as a US citizen and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder.

Khan’s petition, submitted on Saturday through his advocate Zulfiquar Memon and MZM Legal, seeks to quash the police notice. He has requested that the court suspend the operation of the notice until his petition is resolved. In the legal documents, Khan has characterised the notice as “illegal, perverse, drastic and bad in law.”

The petition argues that there are no existing laws or regulations that prevent an OCI cardholder from engaging in peaceful protests. Khan’s legal team contends that the notice lacks a valid basis and fails to provide any reasons or supporting evidence for the alleged violations.

Details of the Police Notice

The police notice was reportedly issued following Khan’s brief detention during a protest held at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on October 10. This demonstration was part of a larger movement in solidarity with a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party in Delhi. The Delhi protest was focused on demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the SIR issue.

Officials cited by PTI indicated that the departure order was issued under Sections 7(2)(C) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. These provisions grant the government authority to restrict the movement of foreign nationals and to order their removal from the country.

Section 7(2)(C) specifically allows the government to prohibit or regulate the presence of foreign nationals, empowering officials to direct individuals not to remain in India or in designated areas. Section 29 further permits the removal of foreign nationals for violating provisions, rules, or orders under the Act, or based on adverse security reports.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Khan, who is the nephew of prominent actor Aamir Khan and has appeared in numerous Hindi films, has been ordered to leave India by the specified date. Should he fail to comply with this order, authorities may initiate deportation proceedings against him under Section 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.

The petition filed by Khan aims to have the departure notice annulled and its enforcement stayed. The matter is anticipated to be brought before a division bench consisting of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna for an urgent hearing.

As the situation develops, the implications of this legal challenge could have significant repercussions for Khan’s status in India, particularly regarding his rights as an OCI cardholder. The court’s decision will likely set a precedent for how similar cases involving foreign nationals participating in protests are handled in the future.

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