Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday adjourned hearing in the petition filed by actor Imran Khan against a 'leave India' notice to November 2.
The High Court has also kept in abeyance till the same date a notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to Khan, a US citizen, which asked him to leave India by October 28.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh gave an oral assurance that nothing would happen after Khan's counsel Venkatesh Dhond cited the October 28 deadline and said no coercive steps shall be taken.
A bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna said it would hear Khan's petition challenging the notice on November 2.
The FRRO had issued the notice to the actor after he attended a protest in solidarity with the agitation against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
As per the notice, Khan has been asked to leave the country by October 28.
The high court was to hear the plea on Tuesday. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the FRRO, sought time.
Khan's counsel Venkatesh Dhond said that until then no coercive steps shall be taken, as the notice says the actor has to leave the country by October 28. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh gave an oral assurance that nothing would happen.
The bench then agreed and adjourned the matter till November 2.
"The impugned notice shall stay in abeyance until then," the High Court said.
The 43-year-old actor, who had been briefly detained during a demonstration here related to the protests seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, claimed in his High Court petition that he had not participated in any gathering and had no association with the organisers of the protests.
According to FRRO, Khan was served the departure order after authorities invoked provisions under Section 7 (2)(C) and Section 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which grant powers to the Government to restrict the movement of foreign nationals and enforce their mandatory removal.
Under Section 7 (2)(C), the government has the authority to issue directions prohibiting, regulating or restricting the presence of any foreigner, specifically empowering officials to order that an individual "shall not remain in India or in any specified area therein."
Section 29 permits the government to direct the removal of a foreign national for contravening any provisions, rules, or orders of the Act, or pursuant to an adverse security report.
Imran Khan's PR team issued a statement, "Mr Imran Khan Pal, actor and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Cardholder residing in India since the age of 2 years, has filed a Writ Petition before the Hon'ble Bombay High Court challenging the Leave India Notice dated 14.10.2026 (“LIN”) issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Mumbai, which directs him to leave India on or before 28.10.2026. The petition challenges the procedure the FRRO adopted. The FRRO concluded that Imran, a US National, had taken part in a protest, and on that basis ordered him to leave India. It did so without giving him any opportunity of being heard."
The actor’s petition argues that the notice does not specify the provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, that he allegedly violated. It also contends that the notice was issued without a show-cause notice or an opportunity to be heard.
According to the petition, Khan has held Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status since 2006 and has lived in India since he was about two years old. He has cited his education, professional work and family ties in the country to underline his longstanding association with India.
The actor has linked the notice to an incident on October 10 near August Kranti Maidan and Nana Chowk in Mumbai, where he says he was briefly detained by police.
According to his account, he was returning to his vehicle when he was surrounded by media personnel and apprehended by the police.
He has denied entering any restricted or barricaded area or disobeying police directions to leave.
The 43-year-old actor was briefly detained during a demonstration here related to the protests seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.
According to FRRO, Khan was served the departure order after authorities invoked provisions under Section 7 (2)(C) and Section 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, which grant powers to the Government to restrict the movement of foreign nationals and enforce their mandatory removal.
Under Section 7 (2)(C), the government has the authority to issue directions prohibiting, regulating or restricting the presence of any foreigner, specifically empowering officials to order that an individual "shall not remain in India or in any specified area therein."
Section 29 permits the government to direct the removal of a foreign national for contravening any provisions, rules, or orders of the Act, or pursuant to an adverse security report.
(With inputs from PTI & ANI)