MUMBAI — The Mumbai Police has directed Bollywood actor Imran Khan to depart the country by October 28 after serving him a formal “Leave India” notice over his attendance at a recent political demonstration in the city.
The regulatory action against Khan, a United States passport holder and nephew of actor Aamir Khan, was initiated under Sections 7 and 29 of the Immigration Act. Authorities cited his involvement in a gathering at Mumbai’s historic August Kranti Maidan—where demonstrators demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar—alleging that participating in domestic political rallies violates the conditions governing foreign nationals.
Law enforcement personnel briefly detained the actor during the weekend demonstration. Shortly after his detention, Khan shared an image from inside a police transport vehicle with the caption:
“Apparently I’m going for a drive.”
Defending his presence at the venue, Khan told reporters that he attended solely as a resident concerned with civil liberties rather than as a partisan organizer.
“I don’t have demands. I am here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city. I am here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted. Why are people’s voices being suppressed? That is why I am here,” he stated.
The deportation order follows a formal complaint lodged by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya, who submitted video footage and speeches to investigators, arguing that Khan had breached Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) norms. Somaiya accused the actor of political overreach, contending that foreign nationals holding OCI status are legally barred from engaging in domestic political agitations.
