High Court Intervenes in "Leave India" Order
Actor Imran Khan has received a temporary reprieve from the Bombay High Court, which on Tuesday directed that a "Leave India Notice" issued against him by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) be kept in abeyance until November 2. The court's decision comes as a significant development for Khan, who was facing a directive to leave the country by October 28.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna, heard the matter. The Central government's counsel requested additional time, assuring the court that no coercive action would be taken against Khan in the interim. Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting Khan's imminent departure requirement under the FRRO directive.
The Roots of the Dispute: Protest and Complaint
The October 14 "Leave India Notice" followed Khan's brief detention after he participated in protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. This action also came in the wake of a complaint filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, alleging violations of public order.
Khan, in his petition filed on October 17, argued that the FRRO notice was issued solely due to his attempt to attend the protest. He claimed that authorities acted hastily, without affording him a prior hearing, thereby bypassing his statutory rights. Khan contended that the decision was influenced by political pressure on social media rather than independent reasoning, bypassing the Citizenship Act's requirement for a formal show-cause notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard before revoking Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) residency.
Next Steps for Khan
The court agreed to adjourn the hearing to November 2, at 3 pm, and explicitly ordered that the FRRO notice remain on hold until the next date. This allows Khan to remain in India beyond the original October 28 deadline. Khan's petition seeks to quash the October 14 notice, an interim stay on his deportation, the issuance of lookout notices, and any interference with his OCI status.