Cinema VinesAmerican citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder Imran Khan is preparing to challenge a directive from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) that orders him to leave India by October 28. According to a report by NDTV, Khan’s lawyer, Zulfiqar Memon, will file a petition with the Bombay High Court to contest the FRRO’s order.
The controversy began after Khan participated in a protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Mumbai, which demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya lodged a complaint with police alleging that Khan’s involvement violated restrictions on foreign citizens. The police forwarded the complaint to the FRRO, which issued a notice requiring Khan to exit the country.
Under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, Section 7 empowers the Central Government to regulate the entry, departure, presence or movement of foreign nationals. The FRRO maintains that holding an OCI card does not grant a foreign national the right to participate in protests, and therefore the order to leave is lawful.
Veteran actor Raza Murad has criticized Khan, stating that foreign nationals should not interfere in India’s internal affairs. Murad said, “Whether it is Imran Khan or anyone else, no foreign national has any business interfering in the internal affairs of our country.” He added that Khan has 15 days to respond and can seek judicial intervention if he believes the decision is unjust, and that the court’s decision must be accepted.
With the FRRO’s directive now before the Bombay High Court, the case will determine whether Khan’s participation in the protest and his status as an OCI cardholder can be legally challenged. The outcome could set a precedent for how foreign nationals are treated in India’s political and civic life.
