Bombay High Court Stays Police Notice Asking Actor Imran Khan to Leave India

Kathmandu: The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to Bollywood actor Imran Khan, staying a Mumbai Police notice directing him to leave India by October 28. The court has temporarily halted the notice until November 2.

On Tuesday, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Maheshchandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna heard Khan’s petition and ordered the interim stay. The hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, was postponed to Tuesday. The court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for November 2.

A few days ago, Khan participated in a protest at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan demanding the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar. Mumbai Police reportedly detained the actor during the demonstration. Authorities initiated proceedings against him under Sections 7 and 29 of the Immigration Act, alleging that he had participated in a political and domestic protest despite not being an Indian citizen.

Khan is an American citizen and does not hold Indian citizenship. He has been residing in India under an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Following the police notice directing him to leave the country, Khan approached the Bombay High Court through his lawyer, Zulfiqar Memon, and his legal team, challenging the notice as unlawful and contrary to the law.

Khan argued that there is no explicit provision in the existing law prohibiting OCI cardholders from participating in peaceful demonstrations. He also contended that the authorities had not provided clear reasons for issuing such a serious notice or given him an opportunity to present his side before directing him to leave India.

With the interim order, the police notice directing Khan to leave India remains on hold for the time being. The matter is expected to be considered further at the next hearing scheduled for November 2.