Bollywood actor challenges quit India notice in Bombay High Court

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 19, 2026

Bollywood actor Imran Khan has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court challenging an FRRO notice ordering him to leave India by October 28, arguing that the notice violates his rights as an OCI holder and was improperly issued without a security report. The case highlights ongoing debates about the treatment of OCI cardholders under Indian immigration laws and could set a precedent for how such notices are applied in future.

Bollywood actor Imran Khan has challenged a notice issued by the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) directing him to leave India by October 28, filing a writ petition in the Bombay High Court on Saturday. The 44-year-old actor, who holds US citizenship and is the nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, described the notice as "unconstitutional" and a misuse of governmental authority.

The directive follows allegations of Khan’s participation in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar near Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10. Khan has sought an immediate stay on the notice’s implementation while the court considers his petition.

In his legal filing, Khan argued that powers conferred under the Immigration and Foreigners’ Act (IFA), 2025, should not be applied to penalise an individual for proximity to a protest or for expressing concerns related to restrictions on movement. He emphasised that his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status, granted under the Citizenship Act, 1955, affords him a statutory right to reside in India, and that the FRRO improperly treated him solely as an American national without due consideration of his OCI registration.

The petition also alleged that the notice was issued without any adverse security report, despite citing Sections 7(2)(c) and 29 of the IFA, 2025. Khan questioned the jurisdiction of the FRRO to order his departure and argued that the notice violated his constitutional rights under Article 21, which guarantees protection of life and personal liberty.

Khan stated that his visit to the protest site was motivated by curiosity about ongoing student demonstrations and that he left promptly upon being informed by police that the area was restricted. He denied any involvement in organising or inciting the protest and asserted he was not affiliated with any group responsible for the demonstration.

Meanwhile, the FRRO issued Khan a show-cause notice on Saturday, asking why his OCI registration should not be cancelled pursuant to Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The case is likely to draw attention to broader issues regarding the rights of OCI holders and the application of immigration laws in India.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.