Imran Khan told to leave India by October 28 after Mumbai protest, reports say

Actor Imran Khan has been directed to leave India by October 28 following his attendance at an October 10 protest in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, according to reports. Khan holds American citizenship and an Overseas Citizen of India card.

Mumbai's Foreigners Regional Registration Office reportedly issued the notice after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya complained about Khan's participation. The actor was among those detained at the demonstration at August Kranti Maidan, which sought Kumar's resignation.

Somaiya alleged that Khan's involvement breached the law. The reported notice and complaint do not establish that the actor has committed an offence, and accounts in the brief offered differing interpretations of the rules on protests.

A police official maintained that foreign nationals were barred from political protests. Supreme Court advocate Amitraj Kaushal, however, said the law did not expressly prevent an OCI cardholder from attending a peaceful gathering.

Kaushal explained that Article 19's protection for peaceful assembly belongs to citizens, so OCI cardholders cannot rely on it in the same way. Articles 14 and 21, covering equality before law and protection of life and personal liberty, apply to everyone.

An OCI card grants eligible foreign citizens of Indian origin specified immigration privileges, including a lifelong visa permitting repeated entry. It does not make the holder an Indian citizen or confer voting rights or eligibility to contest parliamentary and state legislature elections.

According to reports, the notice cites Sections 7 and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. These concern government powers over foreigners' presence in India and their removal under the law.

Cancellation of OCI registration under Section 7D of the Citizenship Act, 1955, is a separate process from an instruction to leave India. Reports stressed that the legal grounds, circumstances and applicable procedures matter when assessing action in an individual case.

With inputs from Times of India, Hindustan Times and NDTV.