Bombay HC extends relief to Imran Khan on leave-India notice, asks why he joined protest

Actor Imran Khan has received relief from the Bombay High Court. The stay on the notice asking him to leave the country was maintained after today's hearing. During the hearing, however, the court put several tough questions to him.

The matter relates to a protest held in Mumbai. Leaders of CJP, Gen-Z groups and opposition parties had called the protest against the SIR (SIR) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Imran Khan took part in it, and the police detained him at the time. He was then served a notice to leave the country by December 7. Imran Khan holds American citizenship, which is why the notice was issued. He approached the High Court against the notice.

At the hearing, the High Court asked why he had gone there at all. The court said the rights of an Indian citizen and of an OCI card holder are different. According to the court, the protest was about the SIR and he could have nothing to do with it. The court also noted that he had written "looking for a job" under Occupation, and asked whether he had found one. His lawyers told the court that he currently has no film and that he spent his childhood here.

The court further said he is a celebrity. If he had no interest in the protest, why did he go there, and was it for a film or a promotion? The court said he would have to give an undertaking on this. It also said the matter would be different if he were an Indian citizen. According to the court, if an Indian citizen did this elsewhere, or in America, the person would be expelled immediately.

On Imran Khan's behalf, the court was told that he went out of curiosity and that he had also given interviews there. The High Court responded that he cannot behave like an Indian citizen and that the SIR has no connection whatsoever with affecting him. The court asked why, having lived here for so many years, he had not applied for Indian citizenship.

The court made it clear that if he wishes to stay as an OCI card holder, he must give an undertaking, because an OCI card holder is not permitted to do all this. He must undertake that he will not take part in any such protest in future and will not incite anyone else to go there. The court also said he would have to offer an unconditional apology.