Bombay High Court Stays Leave-India Notice, Relief for Bollywood Actor Imran Khan for Now

The Bombay High Court has stayed the effect of a notice directing Bollywood actor Imran Khan to leave India. The court's decision on Tuesday (27 October) brought relief to the actor. Until the next hearing of the case on 2 November, no coercive action can be taken against him on the basis of that notice.

India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) had directed Imran to leave India by 28 October. The actor, a United States citizen holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, challenged that direction in court.

The case was due to be heard on Monday (26 October). However, when the central government sought more time to reply, the hearing was deferred to 2 November. The court was assured that no coercive action would be taken against Imran before the next hearing and that the effect of the leave-India notice would also remain stayed. The court's decision came just one day before the FRRO deadline was to expire.

According to a Bar and Bench report, the case was heard by a division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna. At the start of the hearing, the court was told that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta would appear for the central government. Imran's lawyer, senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, then sought a hearing in the afternoon given the urgency of the case.

During the hearing, the central government's lawyer sought more time and proposed a hearing the following Monday. Imran Khan's lawyer Venkatesh Dhond then said, 'But I have to leave tomorrow itself.' In reply, the government lawyer said the hearing could be held on Monday and assured, 'Nothing will happen. This is an oral assurance.' The High Court then fixed 2 November as the next hearing date and stayed the effect of the leave-India notice until then.

On 10 October, Mumbai Police detained Imran Khan while he was taking part in a protest near August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. The protest demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of India's electoral rolls. Writer Washington, who was with Imran, and his cousin Zain Mary Khan were also detained at the time. Four days later, on 14 October, the FRRO issued Imran the notice to leave India, directing him to leave the country by 28 October. The notice cited sections 7(2)(c) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

Imran then filed a writ petition titled 'Imran Khan Pal versus Union of India and Others'. Lawyers Zulfikar Memon, Parvez Memon and Kunal Bajwani conducted the case on his behalf.

In the petition, Imran claimed the direction to leave India was arbitrary and violated his fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the country's constitution. He also alleged that he had not been given a chance to present his side first; the petition said a show-cause notice should have been issued under the prescribed rules so that he could be heard.

Imran Khan made his acting debut in Bollywood with the film 'Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na'. He later acted in several films including 'Delhi Belly', 'Break Ke Baad', 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu', 'Mere Brother Ki Dulhan' and 'Gori Tere Pyaar Mein'.