Mumbai Actor Imran Khan on Saturday filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against the Leave India Notice (LIN) issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO). In the notice he was asked to leave India by 28 October. In his petition, the actor termed the notice as 'unconstitutional'.
The notice was issued on October 14 for alleged violation of the Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA), 2025. Imran is accused of violation by participating in the protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar near August Kranti Maidan on October 10.
The 44-year-old actor has sought repeal of the LIN and an immediate stay on its operation and implementation until his plea is disposed of. The petition has also sought interim relief from the court to restrain the authorities from taking any coercive action against him.
Imran Khan claimed that the 'non-genuine' LIN was issued under 'arbitrariness and gross abuse of power'. MZM Legal's advocates Zulfikar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik are likely to take up the plea for urgent hearing before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi on Monday.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed the complaint after the actor was detained by Mumbai Police during a protest on October 10. The complaint alleged that the US citizen and OCI cardholder violated the law. Following the FIR forwarded by the police, the FRRO issued the LIN on 14 October.
The petition claims that the LIN has been issued without any reason and does not indicate any specific violation of any provision of law. The petition claims that the notice only describes the petitioner as a US citizen and does not mention his OCI designation under the Citizenship Act, 1955, which is a statutory status and grants lifelong right of residence in India. Therefore, ignoring this basic fact shows 'lack of consideration'.
The petition further claimed that the LIN is a 'final order' issued without any prior inquiry, show cause notice or opportunity to reply and the 14 days given to leave the country is not a substitute for hearing.
He further said that the ban on gatherings was imposed by a local police order and not by any order under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Also, the place was not declared a protected or prohibited place by the Central Government under that Act, hence there was no violation of any of the conditions of OCI status.
The petition claimed that the actor did not even attempt to enter the barricaded area and was returning towards his car when asked to leave by the police. The police arrested him only when media persons surrounded him and sought his statement.