The Bombay High Court on Tuesday deferred its hearing on actor Imran Khan’s petition challenging a notice directing him to leave India until November 2, after the Centre assured the court that he would not be required to leave the country on October 28, the deadline specified in the notice. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) gave the assurance after seeking additional time to obtain instructions from the authorities. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna scheduled the next hearing for November 2 at 3 pm. The development provides temporary relief to the actor while his legal challenge remains pending.

Imran Khan, a US citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, approached the High Court to challenge the Leave India Notice issued by the Mumbai FRRO. The notice directed him to leave India by October 28 over his alleged participation in a political protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. During Tuesday’s proceedings, senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Khan, stressed the urgency of the matter because the departure deadline was approaching. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the authorities, told the court that an assurance was being given because the government was seeking more time. The court subsequently listed the petition for November 2.

The controversy began after Imran was briefly detained by Mumbai Police on October 10 near August Kranti Maidan, where a gathering had been planned in support of the Cockroach Janta Party’s campaign seeking the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. The campaign was linked to allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Activist Tushar Gandhi and other demonstrators were associated with the planned protest. Imran’s name came under scrutiny after the incident, and BJP leader Kirit Somaiya sought action against him, citing his alleged participation in political activity as a foreign national. The FRRO subsequently issued the notice directing the actor to leave the country.

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Imran has disputed the basis for the action and argued in his petition that he had not violated the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, or the Citizenship Act. He has contended that the notice did not specify the particular legal provisions he had allegedly breached and was issued without giving him an opportunity to respond. According to his account, he had gone to see what was happening near the proposed protest site and was returning to his vehicle when media personnel surrounded him and police detained him. He has denied crossing police barricades or participating in the demonstration. His legal team has also argued that the action was disproportionate, considering his longstanding residence and personal ties in India.

The actor’s petition seeks the cancellation of the Leave India Notice and protection against coercive action while the matter is under consideration. Imran has said he has lived in India since he was approximately two years old and has held OCI status since 2006. His representatives have argued that the authorities should have provided reasons for the notice and an opportunity to explain his position before directing him to leave the country. The case also involves a separate show-cause notice issued by the FRRO asking him to explain why his OCI registration should not be cancelled over his presence at the October 10 gathering. The show-cause notice is a request for an explanation and does not, by itself, mean that his OCI status has been cancelled.

With the next hearing scheduled for November 2, the court will consider Imran’s challenge to the departure notice as the legal proceedings continue. The government’s assurance means he will not be required to leave India on October 28, but it does not amount to a final ruling on the validity of the notice or his wider challenge to the authorities’ action. The case raises questions about the application of immigration rules to OCI cardholders and the procedures followed when authorities seek to direct a person to leave the country. The High Court’s subsequent proceedings will determine the next steps in the matter.

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