Bombay HC to Hear Imran Khan's Plea Against 'Leave India' Notice on Oct 26ਇਮਰਾਨ ਖ਼ਾਨ ਦੇ 'ਲੀਵ ਇੰਡੀਆ' ਨੋਟਿਸ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਪਟੀਸ਼ਨ ਉੱਤੇ ਹਾਈ ਕੋਰਟ 26 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਸੁਣੇਗੀ

The Bombay High Court on Monday agreed to hear actor Imran Khan's petition against a "Leave India" notice on 26 October, just two days before the 28 October deadline the notice sets. The court asked the actor to make the State a party to the case, according to The Times of India and The Hindu.

What the notice says

The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Mumbai directed Khan, a US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, to leave the country by 28 October, as reported by Hindustan Times, The Tribune and the BBC. The notice alleges he broke the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, by being at a protest on 10 October against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan. It warns of prosecution and deportation proceedings if he stays.

A second notice on OCI status

On Saturday the FRRO also sent a show-cause notice asking why his OCI status should not be cancelled, Hindustan Times and Times of India reported. Khan's lawyer, Zulfiquar Memon, argued that the show-cause notice should have come before the leave-India order, which he called "abrupt and arbitrary".

Khan's argument

In his petition, filed on 17 October, Khan calls the notice "illegal, arbitrary, perverse and drastic". NDTV reported he told the court he went to the protest area only out of curiosity and left when police said it was restricted. He argues that an OCI cardholder is "not an ordinary foreigner" and cannot lose rights without a fair hearing. He says he has lived in India since he was two years old.

Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond urged an early hearing, saying the 26 October date cut it "too close" to the deadline, Times of India reported.

What happens next

The hearing on 26 October will decide whether Khan gets interim protection before 28 October. The FRRO's reply to the OCI show-cause notice is also pending.

Why was Imran Khan asked to leave India?

The FRRO says his presence at the 10 October anti-CEC protest in Mumbai violated foreigners law. Khan denies wrongdoing and says he was only curious.

When will the Bombay High Court hear his plea?

The court will hear it on 26 October 2026, two days before the 28 October deadline.

Is his OCI status cancelled?

No. The FRRO has only issued a show-cause notice asking why it should not be cancelled.