Actor Imran Khan is preparing to challenge a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) notice directing him to leave India by October 28 after he joined a protest near Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. His lawyers said the petition is likely to be registered before the Bombay High Court by Friday or Monday.
The petition is being filed through advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik of MZM Legal. Once registered, it is expected to seek an urgent hearing before a division bench led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi.
The FRRO issued the notice on Thursday after the Gamdevi police station forwarded a complaint filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. The complaint alleged that Khan, a United States citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, violated Indian law by participating in the demonstration. Mumbai Police had detained the actor after he joined the protest on Saturday.
Khan’s lawyers have described the FRRO notice as “drastic”. They said the actor’s position was that the Foreigners Act and OCI rules do not prohibit a person from participating in a protest. According to the lawyers, Khan had also stated that he was not supporting any political party and was participating in support of citizens’ fundamental rights to hold protests.
The notice refers to an alleged violation of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which replaced the Foreigners Act, 1946. The legislation regulates the entry, stay and removal of foreign nationals in India. Section 29 gives the Central Government “reasonable powers” to direct the removal of a foreigner for contravening the Act, related rules or orders, or following an adverse security report.
The law also allows the Central Government to prohibit, regulate or restrict the entry, departure, continued presence, movement and activities of foreign nationals under conditions imposed through the legislation. Section 7 covers these powers, while Sections 21, 22 and 23 provide for offences involving invalid documents, forged documents and overstaying or remaining in India without valid documents.
The OCI scheme, introduced in 2005, provides foreign nationals of Indian origin with a lifelong visa. OCI cardholders cannot vote or contest elections, and remain subject to Indian laws governing foreigners and immigration. The pending petition is expected to test how those restrictions apply to participation in a public demonstration in Mumbai.
The immediate next step is the filing and registration of Khan’s petition before the Bombay High Court, followed by a possible request for an urgent hearing against the October 28 deadline in the FRRO notice.
