Mumbai: Actor Aamir Khan met MNS chief Raj Thackeray at his residence, Shivtirth, in Dadar on Sunday. The meeting created a buzz in political circles as it came amid his nephew, actor and US national Imran Khan, being issued a leave India notice following his brief detention from the site of a protest held in the city on October 10 against chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Imran on Saturday challenged in Bombay High Court the notice issued by Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai, directing him to leave the country by October 28, calling it “arbitrary, unreasoned and wholly misconceived” and against the principles of natural justice. He said in his petition that it was issued without giving him a hearing and it flouts his fundamental rights to equality under Article 14 and to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The same day, FRRO issued a show-cause notice to Imran as to why his citizen of India (OCI) status should not be cancelled. It acknowledged that participation in a protest, detention and FIR by themselves are not conclusive proof of allegations or automatic grounds for cancellation of his OCI registration.

Mumbai: Actor Imran Khan Pal (44) filed a petition in Bombay High Court Saturday challenging a “leave India notice” issued to him by the FRRO for participating in a protest here on October 10 in support of the CJP’s anti-CEC stir in Delhi. Khan, a US national having an OCI registration, has been asked to leave the country by October 28, reports Swati Deshpande.

The notice is “arbitrary, unreasoned and wholly mis­c­o­n­ceived’’ and against princip­l­es of natural justice as it was is­sued sans any hearing to him and flouts his fundamental rights to equality under Article 14 and to life under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, his plea said. He was given nei­t­her reasons nor any reason­a­b­le opportunity to be heard and the notice was issued directly, he says in his petition.

His petition says it is a “punitive executive action’’ where he is made a “scapegoat’’ and the notice appears to be for “extraneous’’ reasons to “stifle perceived dissent.’’ The pl­ea will be mentioned likely on Monday.

He said he has been in India since he was two years old and says that he has “no association, affiliation or connection whatsoever with any organization or institution involved in organizing or participating in the protest against the incumbent Chief Election Commissioner.’’

Articles 14 and 21 are constitutional guarantees available to even foreigners in India, his petition underscored. He e-filed his petition on Saturday and on the same day FRRO sent him a fresh notice.

The FRRO has invoked the Immigration and Foreigners Act (IFA) 2025 to issue him the “leave India notice”. The notice is based on “purported contravention of uncited provisions of the IFA and the Rules and Orders’’ under it, the petition states. The petition says Khan has no criminal antecedents.

Seeking urgent intervention of the HC to stay the notice, the petition filed through MZM Legal advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik, says its potential enforcement would be a “mockery of the principles of natural justice and the Constitution of India’’.

The notice is completely silent on any instances of the contravention in question; any underlying order or data forming the basis for issuance of the order or even any security report, the petition said. “The notice is not a bona fide exercise of statutory authority, but a manifestly arbitrary, high-handed and grossly disproportionate abuse of power, vitiated by complete non-application of mind. It seeks to single out the Petitioner as a convenient scapegoat and make an example of him in furtherance of extraneous personal agendas with which he has no connection, whether to appease public opinion or to stifle perceived dissent,’’ the petition says.

The notice doesn’t disclose statutory contravention or the semblance of any due process, Khan’s petition adds.

Mumbai: After issuing actor Imran Khan a leave India notice on October 14, Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai, on Saturday sent him a second notice, this time asking him to show-cause why his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status should not be cancelled.

Khan, a US national, was granted OCI cardholder status on December 15, 2006. To decide if OCI registration should be cancelled, Centre views as relevant the “nature and circumstances” of activities undertaken in India and their implications.

The notice cites his presence at the August Kranti Maidan protest in support of CJP’s anti-CEC stir in Delhi. The notice says no police permission was granted for the protest and a case was registered against him and other protesters for unlawful assembly.

FRRO has sought his reply in 15 days as the law provides for a hearing before any action is taken to revoke an OCI card under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

FRRO acknowledges, though, that the FIR registration and detention by themselves are not conclusive proof of the allegations or an automatic ground for cancellation of his OCI registration, nor does participation, by itself, establish a ground for cancellation.

However, FRRO said, the nature, circumstances and implications of acts on the interest of the public, and the OCI’s conduct, are to be examined, where relevant, to see if registration should be cancelled under section 7D of the Citizenship Act.

The Citizenship Act Section 7D (e) empowers revocation of OCI in the interests of the sovereignty, integrity of India and security of India, friendly relations with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public. Centre said it was of the “provisional opinion” that Khan’s registration as an OCI Cardholder may be liable to cancellation under this section, subject to his reply and explanations.

FRRO cited an SC ruling to say national security falls under a “broad range of public interests” when legal powers are directed towards the protection of the interests of the state and the public, based always on facts as well.

Khan’s advocate Zulfiquar Memon of MZM Legal said, “As his legal representatives, we are currently examining the contents of the new show-cause notice issued to Imran and we look forward to complying and cooperating with the FRRO in terms of replying to the notice. However, we will take this point up before the high court when the matter comes up for hearing so that we get clarity on the status of the earlier issued leave India notice in light of this new show-cause notice issued by the FRRO.”

Centre said his participation, detention and related circumstances warrant scrutiny on whether his continued OCI status is consistent with the interests of the general public, and has factored in the distinction between Indians and OCIs and the limited and regulated rights available to OCIs.

On October 15, Imran Khan was issued a notice by the Mumbai Police and Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), asking him to leave India by October 28, days after he joined the Mumbai protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The development has affected the actor’s comeback film, Adhure Hum Adhure Tum, which was scheduled to release on December 18. Sources have now suggested that the Netflix movie is likely to be deferred and its promotional campaign put on hold until there is clarity on the matter.

Khan was detained on October 10 when he participated in the August Kranti Maidan protest, which demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. While he was released the same evening, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that the actor — who holds US citizenship and an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card — should face charges for “violating OCI provisions and visa conditions”. The notice to leave the country was issued under the provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

Sources from the team of Adhure Hum Adhure Tum told mid-day that the uncertainty surrounding Khan’s situation has prompted the makers to consider pausing the film’s promotional plans. A source said, “The plan was to begin promotions after Diwali and build towards the release. Now, however, a deferment is being discussed. Since Netflix hasn’t officially announced a release date, postponing it is being considered. The team does not want to begin a campaign without knowing how the situation around Imran will play out.” The actor’s legal team is reportedly filing a petition against the FRRO notice. 

Directed by Danish Aslam, Adhure Hum Adhure Tum also stars Bhumi Pednekkar. 

mid-day texted Aslam, who didn’t respond till press time.

Mumbai: Actor Imran Khan will move Bombay High Court challenging a Mumbai Police order directing him to leave India by October 28 for allegedly violating the Foreigners Act and related rules, his advocate Parvez Memon said.

Khan is being represented by advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik from MZM Legal LLP.

Memon said they would challenge the order on Friday. "Rules do not prohibit OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders from participating in a protest", Memon added further.

Khan, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, was served the order after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya sought action against him over his participation in a protest in Mumbai on Saturday in support of the Cockroach Janata Party.

Somaiya visited Gamdevi police station on Monday and submitted an application seeking action against the actor. The police subsequently forwarded the application to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for further action.

“Imran Khan staying in India for the last couple of days is showing extremism, fanaticism... Indians cannot tolerate it. Khan is a foreign citizen and hence he cannot protest,” Somaiya said.

A senior official confirmed that the actor had been directed to leave the country. “Imran Khan is indeed a foreign national. The competent authority has found that he is a foreign national and has violated the Foreigners Act and the Foreigners Rules. He has therefore been served an order to leave India by October 28,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

Somaiya has also written to Mumbai Police seeking Khan’s detention and deportation, alleging that his participation in the demonstration violated the rules governing OCI cardholders and the conditions of his visa. In a social media post, Somaiya said he had also lodged a complaint with the FRRO’s Immigration Division at Mumbai airport.

OCI cardholders are foreign nationals who enjoy certain privileges in India, including a lifelong, multiple-entry visa, subject to applicable rules. They are also entitled to specified benefits relating to education, property ownership and certain professional activities.

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Mumbai: Lawyers of actor Imran Khan, who has been asked by FRRO to leave the country by Oct 28, contend that he did not participate in the protest at August Kranti Maidan last Saturday.

Speaking to the media moments before being detained at the protest site, the actor had said, "I am here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city. I am here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted, why are people's voices being repressed."

The controversy erupted after BJP ex-MP Kirit Somaiya sought action against Khan, saying the actor had no rights to protest challenging govt policy as he was a foreigner.

The defence also intends to question the allegation that Khan participated in the protest in the manner claimed by the complainant. "Let police take out the CCTV footage of the area and everything will be clear," advocate Zulfiquar Memon said. Apart from Memon, Khan is being represented by Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik from MZM Legal LLP.

According to the actor's defence, he was passing through Nana Chowk when the road was barricaded and media representatives approached him. The legal team plans to seek CCTV footage to establish his movements and determine whether he was an active participant in the demonstration.

These are the defence's claims and will need to be tested against evidence. The police had registered a case against the protestors, including Khan, for illegal assembly since police had not granted them permission for the protest.

Minister of state for home Yogesh Kadam defended the FRRO's decision. "When you enter a country, a visa is issued and certain conditions are stated. You cannot violate those conditions, and if any violation occurs, the relevant Act applies and a notice is issued," he said. Tushar Gandhi, who had called for Saturday's protest, condemned the action.