The Bombay High Court will take up actor Imran Khan’s challenge to a directive requiring him to leave India on October 26, after the actor questioned the legality of the order issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). The notice requires him to depart from the country by October 28.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna fixed the hearing on Monday after senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond mentioned the petition for urgent consideration.
During the proceedings, the Bench asked whether Khan had any criminal antecedents. Dhond submitted that there were none and urged the Court to intervene against the departure directive. The judges also asked the actor to implead the Maharashtra government in the case so that the State could assist the Court on the issue.
Khan, a United States citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, has challenged the FRRO’s October 14 notice, which directs him to leave India by October 28. The order followed his detention by Mumbai Police on October 10 in connection with a protest at August Kranti Maidan against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The episode drew the attention of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who approached the police seeking action against the actor on the ground that he was a foreign national participating in the demonstration. The matter was subsequently referred to the FRRO, which issued the notice citing alleged violations of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
In his petition, Khan has argued that the authorities issued the directive without first giving him an opportunity to explain his position. He has contended that the decision was taken in undue haste and disregarded the safeguards available to him under the law governing OCI cardholders.
The actor has also denied participating in the protest, stating that he was detained while standing near the venue. His plea questions the basis on which his presence in the vicinity of the demonstration was treated as grounds for directing him to leave the country.
Khan has asked the High Court to set aside the FRRO order and suspend its operation while the case is pending. He has also sought protection against coercive action arising from the notice.
The petition comes amid a separate proceeding initiated by the FRRO concerning Khan’s OCI registration. The authorities have issued a show-cause notice seeking an explanation as to why his OCI status should not be cancelled. That notice is not under challenge in the present petition.
With the departure deadline falling on October 28, the October 26 hearing is expected to address the actor’s request for urgent interim protection as well as his challenge to the legality of the FRRO directive.
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