Imran Khan tenders unconditional apology in Bombay HC, undertakes not to join protests

Bollywood actor Imran Khan, who was served a notice to leave India, is now caught up in court proceedings. The notice was issued after he took part in a protest in Mumbai. He appealed against it in the Bombay High Court. At the latest hearing, he apologised to the court and promised that he would not take part in any protest.

Imran Khan is an American citizen and holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card to live in India. On October 10, a protest was held against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in the August Kranti Maidan area of Mumbai. It was held to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the country. Police detained Imran Khan during the protest.

On October 14, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) issued him a notice to leave India. The notice asked him to leave the country by October 28. Imran filed a petition against the notice in the Bombay High Court. The notice was stayed last week.

The hearing took place on November 2 before a bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna. Imran Khan's senior counsel, Venkatesh Dhond, referred to the petition and argued that the actor has no connection with any organisation that held the protest. He said, "I have not been questioned, nor have I been summoned. All the sections are bailable."

Lawyers for the state government told the court that an FIR has been registered in the case. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the FRRO, told the court that he had ample evidence to present. Anil Singh further said, "Petitioner Imran Khan claims that he has nothing to do with the protest, but look at his social media posts and the material he uploaded. He had also given an interview, which he did not include in the petition. He has millions of followers on social media."

Imran Khan's counsel told the court, "I have copies of my American passport and OCI card. I was born in America, so I hold citizenship there. But I have spent my entire life in India. I earlier held a PIO card as well. I spent my childhood in India, I married here and I have worked in Bollywood films." The counsel added, "I am ready to give the court a written assurance that I will not take part in any protest in future."

The bench said, "The allegations are extremely serious. You are an OCI cardholder and cannot behave like an Indian citizen. You have no right to comment on events here. You had no right to take part in the protest. You took part in the protest and incited it, and for this you will also have to apologise." Dhond then filed an unconditional apology along with an undertaking in the Bombay High Court. The next hearing in the case will be on December 7.