The Bombay High Court will hear on October 26 a petition filed by actor Imran Khan challenging the direction issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on October 14 requiring him to leave India. The matter was mentioned before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna on Monday by senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan.
During the hearing, counsel submitted that the FRRO notice was issued following Khan’s brief detention by police after he attempted to attend a demonstration against the Chief Election Commissioner. It was stated that the Central government had been served with a copy of the petition and that an early hearing was requested for October 21. However, the court fixed the matter for October 26 to allow the FRRO time to obtain instructions on the petition.
The bench further directed that the State of Maharashtra be made a party to the proceedings to enable the court to ascertain whether the petitioner has any criminal antecedents. Chief Justice Tripathi observed that the issue is a local matter and accordingly directed Khan’s legal team to join the State as a party, stating, “Are there any criminal antecedents? Join State as party, so that in case. This is a local matter. So make State of Maharashtra a party.”
In his petition, Khan has contended that the FRRO bypassed the statutory requirements under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, which mandates a formal show-cause notice and a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any action affecting the lifelong residency status of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder. He alleges that the October 14 directive was issued in haste and without prior hearing, motivated by political social media campaigns rather than an independent application of mind by the authorities.
The petition notes that the FRRO direction followed an FIR filed at the Gamdevi police station by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya, who alleged public-order infractions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in connection with Khan’s participation in demonstrations. Khan has highlighted that on October 17, the FRRO issued a show-cause notice under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act questioning why his OCI registration should not be cancelled, although this notice has not been challenged in the current petition.
Khan seeks judicial intervention to quash the October 14 ‘leave India’ direction and to obtain an interim stay on its operation. He has also requested the court to restrain any coercive measures, including deportation, lookout notices, blacklisting, or interference with his OCI status. Additionally, the petition calls for the production of all internal records that formed the basis of the FRRO’s decision.
The petition was filed on October 17 and is being handled by senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, assisted by advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon, and Chirag Naik from MZM Legal. The case is listed as Imran Khan Pal v. Union of India & Ors before the Bombay High Court.