Actor Imran Khan has received interim relief in his legal battle against a directive asking him to leave India by October 28, with the Bombay High Court deferring the hearing on his petition until November 2 at 3 pm. The court’s decision came after the Centre sought more time to respond to the actor’s challenge.
The relief comes a day before the deadline stipulated in the Leave India Notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). During the hearing, the Centre’s counsel assured the court that no immediate action would be taken against Khan until the next hearing. The court ordered the notice under challenge to remain in abeyance in the meantime.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna heard the matter on Monday. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Centre, requested that the case be listed on November 2.
Senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan, pointed out that the actor was required to leave India the following day under the FRRO directive. Singh assured the bench that Khan could wait until the next hearing and that no action would be taken against him in the interim. He clarified that this was an oral assurance.
Khan, a United States citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, has challenged the notice, arguing that it was arbitrary and issued without disclosing the grounds for the action or giving him an opportunity to respond.
Why the FRRO issued the notice
The dispute stems from an incident on October 10, when Mumbai Police detained Khan near August Kranti Maidan during a protest seeking Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Khan was detained alongside his partner, Lekha Washington, and his cousin, Zayn Marie Khan.
The actor has denied actively participating in the protest. His petition maintains that no demonstration was underway when he arrived at the spot and disputes the allegations against him.
On October 14, the FRRO issued a Leave India Notice directing Khan to leave the country by October 28. The notice was issued under Sections 7(2)(C) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
The actor challenged the directive through a writ petition, Imran Khan Pal v. Union of India and others, filed by lawyers Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Kunal Vajani.
Khan questions the grounds and procedure
In his petition, Khan described the notice as “arbitrary, illegal, perverse and drastic”, arguing that the authorities had failed to disclose the reasons, supporting material or specific statutory contravention on which the order was based.
His lawyers contended that the authorities had neither conducted an inquiry nor issued a show-cause notice or provided him with an opportunity to explain his position before directing him to leave India. The petition also alleged that the action stemmed from a politically motivated complaint and demonstrated “patent non-application of mind”.
Khan has denied actively participating in the protest, maintaining that no demonstration was taking place when he arrived at the spot. He also claimed that he was detained along with family members without valid justification.
Questioning the severity of the directive, the petition stated: “Not only is the notice manifestly disproportionate, if implemented, it would reduce the very principles of natural justice that the Respondents are duty bound to uphold to nothing but a dead letter.”
The actor has argued that the notice violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and protection of life and personal liberty. He has sought the quashing of the directive and interim protection against action under it.
FRRO also questions his OCI status
The FRRO has separately issued Khan a show-cause notice asking him to explain why his OCI registration should not be cancelled. The development has added another dimension to the actor’s legal battle over his right to remain in India.
Khan has highlighted his longstanding ties to the country, where he has lived since the age of two. His petition refers to his family, marriage, education and professional life in India, while stressing that he has no criminal antecedents.
With the Leave India Notice now kept in abeyance until the next hearing, Khan has temporary protection against action under the directive while the High Court considers his challenge. The matter is scheduled to be heard on November 2 at 3 pm.