Bombay High Court stays FRRO 'Leave India' notice to actor Imran Khan
The Centre assured the court no coercive action will be taken against the actor until his petition is heard on Monday.
The Bombay High Court has granted temporary relief to actor Imran Khan by placing on hold a directive from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) ordering him to leave India by 28 October.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna deferred the matter to 2 November at 3 pm after the Central Government requested additional time to submit its response. The court directed that the FRRO order remain in abeyance in the interim.
The decision followed an assurance from Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the Centre, that the authorities would take no action against the actor before the next hearing.
Notice followed police detention in Mumbai
Khan, a United States citizen who holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, was issued the Leave India Notice on 14 October under Sections 7(2)(C) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
The directive followed an incident on 10 October, when Mumbai Police detained Khan near August Kranti Maidan. The actor was present at the site during a public demonstration regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. His partner, Lekha Washington, and cousin, Zayn Marie Khan, were also detained.
Timeline of key events
| Date | Event | Authority / Forum |
|---|---|---|
| 10 October | Khan detained near August Kranti Maidan | Mumbai Police |
| 14 October | Leave India Notice issued under Immigration Act | FRRO |
| 28 October | Original deadline specified in departure directive | FRRO |
| 2 November | Next scheduled hearing on writ petition | Bombay High Court |
Petition challenges procedural grounds
In his writ petition, titled Imran Khan Pal v. Union of India & Ors., filed through legal counsel Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon, and Kunal Vajani, Khan challenged the order on procedural grounds. The petition stated that the FRRO issued the directive without issuing a prior show-cause notice, conducting an inquiry, or granting an opportunity for a hearing.
Senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan, brought the urgency of the deadline to the bench's attention during Tuesday's brief hearing, noting that the directive required his client to depart the country the following day. With Solicitor General Tushar Mehta unable to join via video link, the Centre requested a short postponement, leading to the court's interim directive maintaining the status quo.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Original FRRO departure deadline | 28 October | Foreigners Regional Registration Office notice |
| Next court hearing date | 2 November at 3 pm | Bombay High Court order |
| Date of initial detention | 10 October | Mumbai Police records |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Imran Khan | Actor who challenged the FRRO Leave India Notice in court. |
| Foreigners Regional Registration Office | Immigration authority that issued the departure notice. |
| Bombay High Court | Judicial body hearing the petition and granting interim relief. |
