Bollywood actor Imran Khan has received a show-cause notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Mumbai asking why his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration should not be cancelled following his participation in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The fresh notice, issued on Saturday, came days after immigration authorities directed the 43-year-old actor, who is a US citizen, to leave India by October 28 for allegedly violating provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
Khan has been given 15 days to respond to the latest notice, which cites his presence at a demonstration near August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on October 10.
The actor had participated in the gathering organised in support of protests against the Chief Election Commissioner in Delhi. Mumbai Police briefly detained him and several other demonstrators during the protest.
๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ธ๐ ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
According to the notice, the demonstration was held without police permission, and a case of unlawful assembly was registered against Khan and other participants.
The FRRO has sought his explanation before deciding whether his OCI registration should be cancelled under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
The authorities acknowledged that registration of an FIR or detention by police does not automatically establish grounds for cancelling OCI status. Similarly, participation in a protest does not, by itself, conclusively justify revocation.
Khan, who holds an American passport, was granted OCI registration on December 15, 2006.
Under the Citizenship Act, an OCI cardholder must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard before the government takes a decision on cancellation.
๐๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐
Meanwhile, Khan has approached the Bombay High Court challenging the earlier notice issued on October 14 directing him to leave the country.
In his petition, filed through advocate Zulfiquar Memon and MZM Legal, the actor described the order as arbitrary, unconstitutional and contrary to established legal procedures.
He argued that the authorities had failed to specify the exact statutory provisions he had allegedly violated or provide supporting material justifying his removal from India.
The petition also contended that the order was issued without an inquiry, prior show-cause notice or opportunity to respond.
Khan has sought the quashing of the directive, an interim stay on its operation and protection against coercive action while his petition remains pending.
The matter is expected to be mentioned before a division bench of the Bombay High Court for an urgent hearing.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐น ๐ฟ๐ผ๐
The controversy began after Khan joined demonstrators near August Kranti Maidan on October 10, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
A complaint was subsequently lodged with Mumbai Police by former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, questioning the actor's participation in the political demonstration despite holding foreign citizenship.
The FRRO's initial notice cited Sections 7 and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which empower authorised authorities to direct foreign nationals to leave India and provide for their removal under specified circumstances.
However, Khan's petition maintains that there is no explicit statutory prohibition preventing an OCI cardholder from participating in a peaceful demonstration.
๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฐ๐ฟ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐
OCI registration allows eligible foreign nationals of Indian origin to reside and work in India without obtaining regular visas, although it does not confer Indian citizenship or political rights such as voting and contesting elections.
The Citizenship Act provides for cancellation of OCI registration under specified circumstances, including concerns relating to national security, sovereignty and public interest.
The latest notice opens a separate process concerning Khan's OCI registration, while his legal challenge to the directive requiring him to leave India remains pending before the High Court.
The outcome will depend on the authorities' consideration of his response and the court's examination of the legality of the earlier order.