Mumbai, OCT 15 A notice by Mumbai Police asking Bollywood actor Imran Khan, a US citizen, to leave the country by October 28 for participating in demonstrations against CEC Gyanesh Kumar has triggered a controversy, with the filmstar deciding to move the Bombay High Court and opposition parties terming the decision as “dictatorial”.
Khan, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder who has acted in several Bollywood films including ‘I Hate Luv Storys’ (2010) and ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ (2011), was served the notice by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for allegedly violating provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act.
Khan, nephew of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, participated in an agitation at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10, where protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police had briefly detained Khan during the demonstration.
A police official said a formal notice instructing Khan to leave the country by October 28 was served on the 43-year-old actor and further administrative procedures were on.
“Imran Khan holds foreign citizenship and is not an Indian national. Under relevant provisions of the Foreigners/Immigration Act, foreign nationals are prohibited from participating in political protests or political activities on Indian soil,” a police official said.
Following the agitation last week, a video surfaced showing the actor responding to a reporter’s query about his participation in the protest as he was being escorted to a police vehicle. “I have no demands. I am not part of any organisation,” he had said.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, known for making hardline speeches, had urged Mumbai police to act against Khan for joining a protest here in support of the Cockroach Janta Party despite being a “foreign citizen” and sought clarity on whether the actor could participate in such agitations.
The BJP leader on Thursday welcomed the police action against the actor and demanded that others involved in similar activities also be deported.
Meanwhile, the actor is likely to approach the Bombay High Court on Friday or Monday through his advocate Zulfiquar Memon, challenging the notice.
According to the draft plea, no provision of law or rule prohibits an OCI cardholder from participating in a peaceful protest.
Terming the Mumbai police notice “drastic”, the plea, once filed, is expected to be mentioned for an urgent hearing before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna.
The issue triggered strong reactions from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Maharashtra with senior Congress leader Nana Patole accusing the Centre of running a dictatorship.
“Not just actor Imran Khan, but anyone in the country who speaks against the government is labelled as a traitor by people sitting in the government,” Patole told reporters in Nagpur.
Alleging that the freedom of people was being snatched away, the Congress leader said, “Those who do not respect the Constitution are sitting in constitutional posts… Shouldn’t we call such people traitors?”
He said that even if one has to hold a protest, money needs to be paid, an apparent reference to the Rs 10 lakh paid during the ‘Chatron ki Goonj’ programme in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
“….If you want to express your opinion, you must pay. This is a dictatorship. If you do not have the right to voice your opinion in independent India, then the Narendra Modi government is running a dictatorship,” the former MP said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said the government was “scared” of protests, noting that many Bollywood stars were foreign nationals or NRIs.
Taking a swipe at the Centre, Raut questioned why the government was not asking former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina to leave India, where she has been living in exile since August 2024.
NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule also defended the actor, saying that participating in a protest is not a crime.
“Everyone has the right to protest. Many of my friends live abroad and they were also at the protest… He (Khan) has just protested,” the Baramati MP said, alleging that the government was targeting peaceful protesters while people facing serious criminal charges continue to hold high office.
“He (Khan) is being asked to leave… What crime has he committed? Many who have been accused of rape and murder are chief ministers of many states. The CM of a big state has murder charges against him yet he remains the CM. He (Khan) has just protested,” the Lok Sabha MP said.
BJP leader Somaiya, who had filed a complaint with the Union government’s immigration authorities, the Airport Authority, and Mumbai police seeking action against Khan, however, said, “There are thousands of Imran Khans in India. They want to live here and defame the country.”
He told reporters that action should be taken against all such people, and they should be deported and also claimed that Khan earned his livelihood in India while participating in political activities opposing the government despite being a US citizen.
(PTI News)
