Imran Khan Secures Temporary Relief as Bombay High Court Suspends FRRO’s ‘Leave India Notice’ Until November 2
The Bombay High Court has temporarily halted a notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) that ordered actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28. This decision came during a hearing on Tuesday, with the court set to revisit the matter on November 2. The Central government requested additional time to respond to Khan’s petition, and the court’s order will remain in effect until then.
Court’s Decision and Next Steps
A Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna, issued the directive after the Central government sought more time. The Additional Solicitor General (ASG), representing the government, assured the court that no coercive action would be taken against Khan in the meantime. The ASG requested that the case be listed for a hearing on November 2, which the court accepted.
Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that the actor was ordered to leave India the following day. The court subsequently suspended the FRRO’s directive until the next hearing, providing Khan with temporary relief.
Background of the Petition
Imran Khan filed his petition on October 17, aiming to quash the FRRO’s “Leave India Notice” issued on October 14. He also sought interim protection against deportation, lookout notices, and any interference with his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status. The notice was issued following Khan’s brief detention after he participated in protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. A complaint was lodged by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, alleging public-order violations.
In his petition, Khan argued that the FRRO acted hastily and without a prior hearing, claiming that political pressure and social media campaigns influenced the decision. He contended that the authorities bypassed the safeguards outlined in Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, which governs the cancellation of OCI registration.
Separate Notice Regarding OCI Status
On the same day Khan filed his petition, the FRRO issued a separate show-cause notice under Section 7D concerning the potential cancellation of his OCI status. However, this notice has not been challenged in the current petition. Khan has requested the court to direct the authorities to produce internal records related to the decision to issue the notice.
The matter is set to be heard again on November 2 at 3 pm. Until that time, the FRRO’s directive requiring Khan to leave India remains on hold.
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