Imran Khan Told to Leave India by 28 October: The Notice, the OCI Rules, and What Happens Next

Actor Imran Khan has been directed to leave India on or before 28 October, days after he was briefly detained at a protest in Mumbai. His lawyers say they will challenge the order in the Bombay High Court.

Here is what's on record so far, and what isn't.

What happened on 10 October

Imran joined a demonstration at August Kranti Maidan in south Mumbai on the afternoon of Saturday 10 October. The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led group, and demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of electoral irregularities. The Election Commission has denied those allegations.

Police had barricaded the area and were detaining people as they arrived. Imran was detained at around 5:20 pm, along with his cousin, actor Zayn Khan, and released later that day. Speaking to a news agency before he was picked up, he said he was there in a personal capacity, with no demands of his own. He later posted a photo from inside a police van on Instagram with a joking caption.

The notice

After the protest, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint alleging that Imran, as a foreign national, had broken the law by joining a political agitation. Mumbai's Gamdevi police forwarded that complaint to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, which issued the notice. According to reports, the notice cites Imran's US citizenship and treats his presence at the protest as a violation of foreigners law. It does not, as reported, name a specific section. Mumbai Police said in a statement that he had taken part in the agitation despite not being an Indian citizen.

His lawyers' position

Imran is represented by Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik of MZM Legal LLP. They have said they would move the Bombay High Court on 16 October and seek an urgent hearing. Their argument, as reported:

• He has not broken any condition of his stay.

• The notice doesn't identify which provision he is supposed to have violated.

• Decisions about his OCI status sit with the Ministry of Home Affairs, which must give him a hearing first.

As of publishing, no court order had been reported. Imran himself has not commented publicly on the notice.

What OCI does and doesn't cover

Imran was born in the US and is an American citizen. He holds an Overseas Citizen of India card. A lot of the confusion online comes from treating OCI as dual citizenship. It isn't. According to the Indian government's own guidance, OCI gives:

• A lifelong, multiple-entry visa to visit and live in India

• Exemption from registering with the FRRO, however long the stay

• Broad parity with Non-Resident Indians on economic, financial and educational matters (agricultural land excepted)

It does not give the right to vote, to sit in Parliament or a state legislature, or to hold constitutional posts. OCI holders also need prior permission for missionary work, mountaineering and journalism.

The published rules don't say anything specific about protests. They do let the central government cancel OCI registration on a short list of grounds, including fraud in the application, "disaffection" towards the Constitution, and where cancellation is necessary in the interests of India's sovereignty, security or the general public. That last ground is broad, and how it applies here is exactly the sort of question a court will be asked.

For the many OCI holders who live in India full time, that question matters well beyond one actor.

The film he's been away from

The timing is awkward for a career that was just restarting. Imran stepped away from acting after Katti Batti in 2015; we looked at what he's said about that 11-year break in April. His comeback, the Netflix romance Adhure Hum Adhure Tum, reunites him with Break Ke Baad director Danish Aslam. In August, Imran said it was due at the end of this year, with the date in Netflix's hands. Netflix hasn't announced any change.

This is a developing story. We will update it when the Bombay High Court hears the matter or the authorities respond.

Frequently asked questions

Why has Imran Khan been asked to leave India?

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) issued a notice after he joined a protest in Mumbai on 10 October. Reports say it treats his participation, as a non-citizen, as a violation of foreigners law.

Is Imran Khan an Indian citizen?

No. He is a US citizen by birth and holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which gives a lifelong visa but not Indian citizenship.

Can OCI cardholders take part in protests in India?

The official OCI rules don't directly mention protests. They bar voting and holding legislative or constitutional office, require permission for activities like journalism and missionary work, and allow the government to cancel OCI on grounds that include public interest.

Is Imran Khan's comeback film still releasing?

No change has been announced. Adhure Hum Adhure Tum, directed by Danish Aslam for Netflix, was described in August as due at the end of 2026.