Actor Imran Khan ordered to leave India after protest participation

Actor Imran Khan, nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, has been ordered by India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to leave the country by October 28, 2026, following his participation in a protest in Mumbai on October 10. Khan, a U.S. citizen holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, joined a demonstration at August Kranti Maidan organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions. The government alleges Khan violated Sections 7(2)(c) and 29 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 by participating in the protest as a non-citizen.

The complaint against Khan was filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who accused the actor of involvement in a conspiracy to spread unrest. During the protest, Khan was briefly detained by police alongside other demonstrators and later posted a photograph from a police van on Instagram with the caption "Apparently I'm going for a drive," which garnered over two million likes. When addressing reporters at the protest, Khan stated: "I don't have demands. I'm here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city. I'm here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted, why people's voices are being suppressed."

Khan's legal team has challenged the expulsion order, arguing that OCI cardholders are not prohibited by law from participating in protests. The actor's lawyer, Zulfikar Memon, described the order as "drastic" and confirmed plans to petition the Bombay High Court. Khan is known for his 2008 debut film "Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na" and child roles in 1988's "Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak" and 1992's "Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar." He is returning to acting this year with the Netflix film "Adhure Hum Adhure Tum" after a decade-long hiatus.

The broader CJP movement has organized multiple demonstrations across India seeking electoral reforms. On October 14, thousands marched in Delhi, and opposition leaders including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi led a procession from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court. Two CJP leaders were arrested and jailed for five days on allegations of trespassing at a Delhi protest site. India's election commission has denied allegations of vote fraud underlying the protests. Other public figures, including filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, have publicly supported the government's action, questioning whether non-citizens have the right to protest in India.