Imran Khan Won’t Have To Leave India On October 28, Bombay HC Adjourns Deportation Case To November 2
Imran Khan gets temporary relief in his Leave India Notice case as the Bombay High Court adjourns his petition to November 2.
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Bollywood actor Imran Khan can breathe a sigh of relief – at least for now. Just a day before his looming October 28 deadline to exit the country, the Bombay High Court has stepped in, granting the actor interim relief. On Tuesday (October 27), a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna deferred the hearing of his petition to November 2 at 3 PM, putting the controversial 'Leave India' notice in abeyance. The state government has also been added as a party to the matter following an initial mentioning on October 19.
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The legal saga began on October 10 at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan. The Bollywood actor, who is an American citizen and has held Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status since 2006, was present during a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protest was organised in solidarity with a demonstration by the Cockroach Janta Party in Delhi.
During the agitation, Imran Khan was briefly detained alongside his partner, Lekha Washington, and his cousin, Zayne Marie Khan. Posting a picture from inside a police van, the actor shared, "Apparently, I'm going for a drive."
Addressing his presence at the site, he stated, "I don't have demands. 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 suppressed? That is why I am here."
Following the protest, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a police complaint alleging that Imran Khan violated rules by participating as a US citizen. This resulted in an "unproven" FIR and prompted the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to issue a Leave India Notice (LIN) on October 14. The notice was issued under Sections 7(2)(C) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, with Section 7 empowering the Central Government to regulate or restrict the presence of foreigners in India. Imran Khan received the directive on October 15, and by October 17, the FRRO also issued a show-cause notice asking why his OCI registration should not be cancelled.
In response, the Bollywood actor filed a writ petition, Imran Khan Pal v. Union of India & Ors., through lawyers Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon, and Kunal Vajani. Seeking to quash the deportation order and prevent coercive measures like a Look Out Circular (LOC), his petition pulled no punches, slamming the notice as "arbitrary, illegal, perverse and drastic."
His legal team argued that the move violated Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution and was issued "without disclosing any reasons, supporting material, or specific statutory contravention." Highlighting a violation of natural justice – as authorities conducted no prior inquiry or issued a show-cause notice before the LIN – the petition stated: “Not only is the notice manifestly disproportionate, if implemented, it would reduce the very principles of natural justice that the Respondents are duty bound to uphold to nothing but a dead letter.”
Imran Khan denied active participation in any gathering, stating no demonstration was underway when he arrived. He alleged the FRRO acted "at the behest of and on the timetable of a political functionary who holds office under the IFA," showcasing "patent non-application of mind." The petition contended that he was being "uprooted from India altogether without a lesser measure being considered" and emphasized that "no statute debars any person from mere presence at, or participation in, a rally or a protest."
His PR team released a statement clarifying his stance: "Mr Imran Khan Pal, actor and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder residing in India since the age of 2 years, has filed a Writ Petition before the Hon'ble Bombay High Court challenging the Leave India Notice dated 14.10.2026 (“LIN”) issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Mumbai, which directs him to leave India on or before 28.10.2026. The petition challenges the procedure the FRRO adopted. The FRRO concluded that Imran, a US National, had taken part in a protest, and on that basis ordered him to leave India. It did so without giving him any opportunity of being heard."
During Tuesday's brief hearing, the Centre's counsel, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, sought an adjournment until Monday. Representing the Bollywood actor, senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond stressed the severe urgency of the deadline, telling the court, “But I have to leave tomorrow (according to the FRRO directive).”
Responding to the concern, ASG Anil Singh assured the bench, “may keep it on Monday. Nothing will happen. That is an oral assurance.”
With this assurance, the court adjourned the matter to November 2. For now, Imran Khan's longstanding ties to India – where he has lived since the age of two, built his education, marriage, and professional life, and maintained a record with no criminal antecedents – remain legally protected until the next courtroom showdown.
