Imran Khan Moves Bombay High Court Against FRRO Notice; Raza Murad Defends Action

Actor Imran Khan has approached the Bombay High Court to challenge a Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) notice directing him to leave India by October 28, 2026, after his participation in a protest in Mumbai. Veteran actor Raza Murad, meanwhile, has criticised Khan’s involvement in the demonstration, arguing that foreign nationals should not interfere in India’s internal affairs.

The dispute has moved beyond a debate over a celebrity’s participation in a protest. It now raises questions about the powers exercised by immigration authorities, the position of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and the legal grounds for the order issued against Khan.

Why Was Imran Khan Asked to Leave India?

Khan, who holds US citizenship and an OCI card, participated in a demonstration near Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10. The protest was linked to demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Following the demonstration, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya complained to the authorities about Khan’s participation, questioning whether a foreign national with OCI status could take part in a political protest in India.

The FRRO subsequently issued a notice directing Khan to leave the country by October 28. The notice reportedly invokes the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and alleges that he contravened provisions of the law. Khan’s legal team disputes the action and is challenging the directive before the Bombay High Court.

It is important to distinguish the authority’s allegation from a judicial finding: the notice does not, by itself, establish that Khan has committed an offence.

Imran Khan’s Legal Challenge

Khan’s lawyers have said that they are contesting the FRRO notice. According to reporting by Hindustan Times, the legal team argues that the actor did not violate the applicable conditions and that the notice does not clearly identify the specific provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, allegedly breached.

The New Indian Express reported on October 15 that Khan had approached the Bombay High Court. The matter was listed to be heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna.

The central questions include whether the notice adequately identifies the alleged violation, whether the authorities followed the required procedure and whether the decision can withstand judicial scrutiny. The court’s eventual assessment, rather than statements made by supporters or critics, will determine the legal outcome.

What Did Raza Murad Say About Imran Khan?

Veteran actor Raza Murad supported the authorities’ action and argued that a foreign national should not intervene in India’s domestic political affairs.

Speaking to ANI, Murad said he had only recently learned that Khan was a US citizen. He argued that foreign nationals should not participate so actively in India’s internal politics and maintained that the Mumbai Police were acting within the legal framework.

Murad also pointed out that Khan had been given time to respond to the order and could approach the court if he believed the decision was unjust. He said the court’s decision should be accepted by all parties.

Murad’s remarks reflect his position on the controversy; they do not determine whether the FRRO notice is legally valid. That question is now before the judiciary.

What Does the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, Say?

The Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which came into force on September 1, 2025, governs several aspects of the entry, stay and departure of foreign nationals in India.

Section 7 empowers the Central Government to issue orders, directions or instructions concerning the entry, presence, movement and departure of foreigners. The law therefore gives authorities powers to regulate the presence of foreign nationals in the country.

However, the legal issue in Khan’s case is more specific than whether such powers exist. It concerns the grounds invoked in his particular notice, the conditions applicable to his status and whether the decision complies with the law.

OCI status does not confer Indian citizenship. At the same time, the precise legal basis for action in an individual case must be assessed against the relevant statute, applicable rules and the facts. The Indian Express has noted that the law does not expressly state that all foreign nationals or OCI cardholders are automatically prohibited from attending protests; the circumstances and legal basis of the authorities’ action remain important.

Why the Case Matters Beyond Bollywood?

The dispute has drawn attention because it involves a recognisable film actor, but its implications extend beyond the entertainment industry. It brings immigration enforcement, political participation and judicial review into the same case.

For public figures with foreign citizenship or OCI status, the controversy highlights the importance of understanding the legal conditions governing their presence in India. For the authorities, the case places the notice and its stated grounds under judicial scrutiny.

It would be premature to treat either the government’s position or Khan’s challenge as having prevailed before the court has ruled.

The Celebrity Hour Take

Raza Murad’s criticism and Imran Khan’s legal challenge represent two different responses to the same controversy: one focuses on the principle that foreign nationals should not intervene in domestic politics, while the other questions the legality of the specific immigration order.

Those arguments should not be confused with the legal test before the court. The key issues are the authority for the notice, the reasons given for issuing it and whether due process was followed. The High Court’s consideration of those questions will be more consequential than the competing opinions circulating around the case.

Sources & Verification

This article draws on the reported FRRO notice, statements attributed to Raza Murad in an ANI report, coverage of Khan’s legal challenge by The New Indian Express and Hindustan Times, and the text of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Allegations in the notice are attributed to the authorities, and Murad’s comments are presented as his opinion rather than a judicial determination.