Bombay High Court to Hear Imran Khan Plea Against FRRO Notice
The Bombay High Court scheduled an urgent hearing on October 26 to examine a writ petition filed by actor Imran Khan challenging a deportation directive issued by immigration authorities. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna instructed Khan's legal counsel to formally implead the State of Maharashtra as an official respondent. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office ordered the 43-year-old actor, who holds United States citizenship, to exit Indian sovereign territory by October 28. During preliminary proceedings, the judicial bench asked whether any criminal complaints were pending against the actor and directed state police inclusion to ensure comprehensive records.
The FRRO issued the show-cause notice to Imran Khan under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act.
Circumstances Surrounding Immigration Notice
Immigration authorities issued the initial departure order following the actor's attendance at a civic demonstration organized at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. Khan was served the administrative directive on October 14 after being briefly detained from the site of an October 10 demonstration held in the city. The administrative notice issued under the Immigration and Foreigners Act alleged that Khan engaged in political activities prohibited for foreign passport holders. Khan's legal representatives contended that attending a peaceful public assembly does not constitute a statutory violation justifying summary deportation.
Legal Arguments and Natural Justice Challenges
Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond submitted before the court that the actor has continuously resided in India since the age of two years. Counsel argued that the expulsion directive was served abruptly without prior notice, without affording an administrative hearing, and without articulating statutory reasons. The writ petition challenges the arbitrary speed with which immigration officials issued the departure order without affording natural justice or an advance hearing. The actor requested judicial production of all classified inter-departmental files and intelligence inputs relied upon by immigration regulators to mandate his exit.
Dual Administrative Notices and OCI Safeguards
Following the departure directive, immigration authorities separately served a show-cause notice on October 17 initiating proceedings to cancel Khan's Overseas Citizen of India registration. Khan's petition emphasizes the legal distinction between the immediate departure order and statutory revocation proceedings governing Overseas Citizen of India status. Legal counsel urged the division bench to grant prompt intervention before the impending October 28 departure deadline takes effect.
Industry Reactions and Judicial Precedents
Filmmaker Kiran Rao, who has been associated with Khan's family, was among those who questioned the disproportionate administrative measures taken against the actor. Legal experts noted that the High Court's impending determination will establish significant judicial precedent regarding the constitutional free speech protections accorded to OCI cardholders. The Bombay High Court will evaluate whether municipal police records substantiate any public order infractions during the scheduled October 26 hearing.
In July 2023, the Delhi High Court set aside the government's order cancelling Ashok Swain's OCI card under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, mandating reasoned administrative disclosures.