Actor Imran Khan has been asked to leave India by October 28 after the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) issued him a notice over his participation in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Mumbai on October 10. The development comes amid a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya, who alleged that Khan, a US citizen, violated the Foreigners Act by attending the demonstration at August Kranti Maidan.
Khan was detained by Mumbai Police during the protest. Following the incident, Somaiya filed a complaint at Gamdevi police station, alleging that the actor had breached the law by participating in the demonstration.
“A complaint was filed at Gamdevi police station stating that Imran Khan had breached the Foreigners Act. The complaint was forwarded to [the] FRRO department,” police said.
An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the FRRO subsequently issued a notice directing Khan to leave the country by October 28. The notice reportedly cites his US residency and alleges a violation of the Foreigners Act.
Meanwhile, Khan’s partner, Lekha Washington, has described the events leading to their detention, alleging that police personnel grabbed her and actor Zayn Marie, leaving both with bruises, before taking them away in a vehicle.
In a detailed note posted on Instagram, Washington said she, Khan, Zayn, Khan’s mother Nuzhat and others had gone to August Kranti Maidan to enquire about friends who had been detained earlier. She said there was no protest gathering underway when they reached the venue, although the area had been barricaded and a sizeable media contingent was present.
“On Saturday, around 5 pm, Zayn Marie, Nuzhat (Imran’s mother), my partner Imran, myself, and others walked towards August Kranti Maidan to ask about friends of ours who had been detained,” she wrote.
Washington said Khan was approached by reporters and briefly answered their questions, clarifying that they were not representing any organisation and had no specific demands.
“He responded to the questions from the media, saying we have no demands, we are not part of an organisation, we are just individuals,” she wrote.
She alleged that he was interrupted before he could finish speaking.
“Before he could even finish his sentence, with the weight of the media on one side, loud and incessant whistle-blowing disrupted everything,” she added.
Washington further alleged that police personnel grabbed her and Zayn, bruising them, before forcing the group into a vehicle. She said they were driven around for a couple of hours and were subsequently prevented from using public transport.
“A stream of uniformed persons grabbed both Zayn and me, bruising us. They forced us all into the vehicle and then drove us around for a couple of hours. Subsequent to that, they did not allow us to take public transport,” she wrote.
Washington added that much of the journey took place in traffic and said the evening’s events had been documented in detail.
Khan’s case has also drawn attention to the legal position of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders. The OCI scheme, introduced in 2005, allows eligible people of Indian origin who hold foreign citizenship to live in India on a lifelong visa, subject to applicable rules. However, OCI status does not confer Indian citizenship or the right to vote or contest elections.
While the Constitution’s guarantees of freedom of speech and peaceful assembly under Article 19 apply to Indian citizens, OCI cardholders remain subject to Indian laws governing foreign nationals and immigration. The OCI framework does not expressly impose a blanket requirement to obtain prior permission simply to attend a public protest.
Under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955, the government may cancel OCI registration on specified grounds. However, a complaint or an allegation of a legal violation does not, by itself, establish that an offence has been committed or determine whether deportation is legally warranted.
