Bombay High Court to Hear Actor Imran Khan's Plea Against Departure Notice on October 26

Court Hearing

The Bombay High Court will hear a petition filed by actor Imran Khan on October 26 against a directive from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office ordering him to depart the country. The actor challenged the October 14 notice, stating that officials acted without granting him a prior hearing and ignored the legal protections tied to his Overseas Citizen of India status. A division bench featuring Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna handled the matter on Monday. Senior lawyer Venkatesh Dhond represented the actor and told the bench that his client received the order after police stopped him on his way to join a public protest.

Legal Arguments

Dhond asked the court for an early hearing on October 21 after sending a copy of the petition to the Central government, but the judges set the date for October 26 so the FRRO could gather instructions. The bench also instructed the actor's legal team to add the Maharashtra government to the case to verify if the actor has any past criminal cases. The petition states that authorities rushed the decision due to online pressure from political figures rather than making an independent evaluation. The actor wants the court to cancel the October 14 notice, put a temporary halt on its execution, and stop officials from taking harsh actions like deportation or blocking his status.

Police Case And OCI Notice

The departure order followed a brief police detention after the actor joined protests directed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The notice arrived shortly after Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya lodged an FIR at the Gamdevi police station in Mumbai for alleged public order breaches under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita of 2023. The actor filed his petition on October 17, questioning how quickly the FRRO issued the order and arguing that officials skipped the proper steps required under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act. Separately, the FRRO issued a show-cause notice on October 17 asking why his registration should not be revoked, though the actor has not challenged that second notice in this current petition.

Context

Overseas Citizenship of India is a status granted to foreign citizens of Indian origin that gives them certain residency and travel benefits, though it can be revoked under specific legal provisions. Courts frequently examine whether administrative bodies follow due process and allow proper hearings before issuing orders that affect a person's residency rights.