The Bombay High Court has allowed actor Imran Khan, a US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, to remain in India after he agreed to offer an “unconditional apology” over his alleged involvement in a protest against the revision of electoral rolls.
According to Hindustan Times, the court on Monday kept the Foreigners Regional Registration Office’s (FRRO) ‘Leave India Notice’ in abeyance and allowed Khan to stay in the country until the next hearing on 7 December. The court also asked him to submit an undertaking that he would not take part in future protests or agitations.
During the hearing of Khan’s petition challenging the notice, the court observed that OCI cardholders remain “at the mercy of the country” and cannot claim the same rights as Indian citizens.
The controversy began on 10 October, when Mumbai Police briefly detained Khan near August Kranti Maidan during a youth-led protest. Demonstrators demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Khan, who holds US citizenship and an OCI card, was among those detained. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya later filed a police complaint alleging that the actor had breached immigration rules by taking part in a political demonstration as a foreign national.
Following the complaint and an FIR forwarded by police, the FRRO issued the Leave India Notice on 14 October. It directed Khan to leave India by 28 October under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Khan approached the Bombay High Court on 17 October, describing the notice as arbitrary, unconstitutional and disproportionate. He argued that he had neither organised nor participated in the protest. He said he was merely present near the location and left when police asked him to do so.
In his petition, Khan also argued that the authorities could not order his departure from India solely on an allegation that he had joined a protest. He said he had lived in the country for nearly four decades and that his OCI status entitled him to a lifelong visa.
He further alleged that the FRRO issued the notice without giving him an opportunity to explain his position.
The FRRO also issued a separate show-cause notice asking why the government should not cancel his OCI registration under Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The provision allows the government to cancel OCI registration on specified grounds, including national security, sovereignty and public interest.
The court has kept the Leave India Notice on hold until the next hearing on 7 December.
