Bollywood Actor Imran Khan to Challenge Order to Leave India in Bombay High Court
Actor Imran Khan, a US citizen and OCI cardholder, is moving the Bombay High Court against a Mumbai Police order directing him to leave India by October 28, after he was detained at a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Bollywood actor Imran Khan is preparing to challenge in the Bombay High Court a Mumbai Police order that directs him to leave India by October 28. The order followed his detention on October 10 during a demonstration at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, where protesters had gathered against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Police also detained his girlfriend, actor Lekha Washington, and his cousin Zayn Marie Khan during the same demonstration.
Khan, a United States citizen who holds an Overseas Citizen of India card, was accused by police of violating provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act by taking part in the protest. He has engaged advocates Zulfiquar Memon, Parvez Memon and Chirag Naik of MZM Legal LLP to represent him in the case.
At the heart of the planned legal challenge is the argument that nothing in Indian law or in the regulations governing OCI cardholders prevents someone with that status from attending a protest. Khan's legal team is expected to press that point before the Bombay High Court as it seeks to have the order set aside well before the October 28 deadline it imposes.
The case has drawn attention to the rights and limits attached to OCI status, which allows long-term residence and most of the practical benefits of living in India without conferring full citizenship, as well as to how authorities have responded to demonstrations connected to the sitting Chief Election Commissioner.
