Bombay HC shields actor Imran Khan from leave-India notice till Nov 2 hearing

Bollywood actor Imran Khan received interim relief from the Bombay High Court on Tuesday. The court asked the Centre to take no action on a notice directing him to leave India until the next hearing on November 2.

Khan is a US citizen and holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. He had challenged in the High Court the notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

He is accused of violating immigration rules by taking part in a protest in Mumbai on October 10 against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In this matter, he had been told to leave India by October 28.

The petition was heard by a bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh told the court that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was not available to argue the case, and sought an adjournment. The Centre then gave the court an oral assurance that no action would be taken on the notice until the next hearing. The court recorded the assurance.

In his petition, Khan has described the notice as illegal, arbitrary and disproportionately harsh compared with the allegations made.

He says the authorities have not stated what the alleged violation actually is. According to him, no evidence has been produced in support of the allegations. He was also not given an opportunity to present his side before being directed to leave India.

Khan has also argued in the petition that the law does not expressly bar OCI cardholders from taking part in a peaceful protest.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had complained that Khan broke immigration rules by joining the protest. The FRRO then sent him the notice to leave India.

Because of the High Court's interim order, Khan no longer needs to leave India by the October 28 deadline. The next hearing in the case will be on November 2.