Bombay HC Adjourns Imran Khan’s Plea Against 'Leave India Notice' to Nov 2
Actor Imran Khan challenges the FRRO's order to leave India by Oct 28. Bombay HC adjourns the plea to Nov 2 with an assurance of no immediate action.
The Bombay High Court has adjourned the petition filed by actor Imran Khan, who is challenging a 'Leave India Notice' issued by the authorities. The court has pushed the hearing to November 2, providing a temporary reprieve for the actor who had been directed to depart from the country by October 28.
During the proceedings, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) representing the central government provided an oral assurance to the court that no coercive action would be taken against Imran Khan until the next scheduled hearing. Consequently, the challenge to the notice will remain in abeyance until November 2.
The Conflict: Why Was the Notice Issued?
The legal battle began when Imran Khan filed a writ petition against a Leave India Notice (LIN) dated October 14, 2026, issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) in Mumbai. The notice explicitly ordered him to leave India on or before October 28.
According to the actor's PR team, the FRRO concluded that Khan, a US national, had participated in a protest. Based on this conclusion, the order to leave the country was issued. However, the petition argues that this decision was reached without granting Khan any opportunity to be heard or providing a formal explanation.
Deep Ties to India
Imran Khan’s legal team has highlighted his lifelong connection to the country to argue against the proportionality of the order. The petition points out that:
- Khan has lived in India since he was two years old.
- He has held Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status since 2006.
- His entire education, professional career, and family ties are rooted in India.
The Incident at August Kranti Maidan
The actor has linked the FRRO's action to an event that occurred on October 10 near Nana Chowk and August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. Khan claims that while he was returning to his vehicle, he was surrounded by media members and subsequently detained by the police.
He has categorically denied entering any barricaded or restricted zones or disobeying police orders. His team clarified that he was neither an organizer nor a participant in the protest; he had simply gone to observe the situation before being apprehended and taken to the Yellow Gate Police Station along with family members.
Legal Arguments and Procedural Lapses
The petition raises several critical legal concerns regarding the FRRO's process:
- Lack of Specificity: The notice allegedly fails to specify which provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, were violated.
- Due Process: The actor contends that the LIN was issued without a prior show-cause notice.
- Unproven Allegations: While an FIR was registered at the Gamdevi Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the petition argues that no chargesheet had been filed and no charges framed before the notice was issued.
The Show-Cause Notice
Following the filing of the petition, the FRRO issued a detailed show-cause notice (SCN) asking Khan to explain why his OCI registration should not be cancelled due to his presence at the October 10 gathering.
Describing the action as disproportionate, Khan has sought the quashing of the original notice and a full disclosure of the materials the FRRO relied upon. He has also requested interim protection to prevent deportation, blacklisting, or any adverse action against his OCI status while the court deliberates on the matter.