Bombay High Court Stays Leave India Order for Imran Khan

The Bombay High Court granted interim relief to Imran Khan, a U.S. citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, by staying a Leave India Notice that required him to depart the country by October 28. The stay remains in effect until the next hearing on November 2.

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) issued the notice following Khan's detention on October 10 during a protest at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan. The demonstration was held in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party, which demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over electoral roll revisions. Mumbai Police invoked the Immigration and Foreigners Act to justify the order, while the FRRO also issued a show-cause notice regarding the potential revocation of Khan's OCI status.

Khan challenged the order as illegal and arbitrary, denying that he participated in or organized the protest. He asserted that he was detained while returning to his car and that authorities failed to provide an opportunity for a response before issuing the expulsion order. During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Anil C. Singh provided an oral assurance that the government would take no coercive action against the actor in the interim. The division bench, led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi, adjourned the matter to November 2 at 3:00 p.m.