Actor Imran Khan Apologizes to Bombay High Court Over Protest Participation

NEW DELHI — Actor Imran Khan on Monday tendered an unconditional apology before the Bombay High Court after being reprimanded for participating in a protest while holding US citizenship.

A bench led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra questioned Khan’s presence at the demonstration and highlighted the distinct legal boundaries between Indian citizens and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders. The court asked how the United States would respond if an Indian national engaged in similar political protests on American soil, suggesting such a person would face immediate deportation.

The bench directed Khan to make a categorical statement clarifying his association with the agitation, noting that the protest concerned the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls—a matter unrelated to him.

The high court was hearing Khan’s petition challenging a “Leave India” notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on October 14, which ordered him to depart the country by October 28. Following the hearing, the court scheduled the next proceedings for December 7 and extended the interim relief by keeping the notice against him in abeyance until then.

The legal proceedings stem from an incident on October 10, when Khan was detained during a Mumbai protest directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Following the detention, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya lodged a police complaint accusing Khan of breaching OCI regulations and visa terms. The Mumbai Police subsequently transmitted an unproven First Information Report to the FRRO, prompting the issuance of the departure notice.

The court previously held the notice in abeyance until November 2 and has now prolonged that protection through the December hearing date while the legal challenge remains pending.