Mumbai: Indian authorities have asked Bollywood actor Imran Khan to leave the country by October 28, after he joined a protest in Mumbai demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, local media reported on Thursday.
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office, the federal agency responsible for tracking foreign nationals, sent Khan a notice to leave based on a complaint filed at a Mumbai police station, according to the Indian Express and the Times of India, as reported by Reuters.
What triggered the notice
Khan, 43, participated in a rally at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on October 10, organised in support of the Cockroach Janta Party's agitation seeking the CEC's resignation over voter list revisions that critics and opposition parties say favour the ruling party. Police briefly took the actor into custody during the demonstration.
Khan is a United States citizen and an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder. Under Indian law, participation by foreign nationals in political protests may be treated as a violation of immigration and visa rules. The action followed a complaint by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who questioned how a foreign national could take part in a political agitation on Indian soil.
The actor posted on Instagram that day from what appeared to be a police van, writing "Apparently I'm going for a drive" alongside a photograph in which he flashed a victory sign. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
A nephew of Aamir Khan
Khan, the nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, acted in several hit films between 2008 and 2015 before stepping away from the industry. His participation in the protest had already led to a police complaint; the "leave India" notice marks a sharp escalation and the first such action against a public figure in the ongoing agitation against the election commission.
Sources:
- Bollywood actor Imran Khan asked to leave India after participating in protest, media says (Reuters)
- Anti-CEC protest LIVE: FRRO asks actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28 (Hindustan Times)
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office, the federal agency responsible for tracking foreign nationals, sent Khan a notice to leave based on a complaint filed at a Mumbai police station, according to the Indian Express and the Times of India, as reported by Reuters.
What triggered the notice
Khan, 43, participated in a rally at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on October 10, organised in support of the Cockroach Janta Party's agitation seeking the CEC's resignation over voter list revisions that critics and opposition parties say favour the ruling party. Police briefly took the actor into custody during the demonstration.
Khan is a United States citizen and an Overseas Citizen of India cardholder. Under Indian law, participation by foreign nationals in political protests may be treated as a violation of immigration and visa rules. The action followed a complaint by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who questioned how a foreign national could take part in a political agitation on Indian soil.
The actor posted on Instagram that day from what appeared to be a police van, writing "Apparently I'm going for a drive" alongside a photograph in which he flashed a victory sign. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
A nephew of Aamir Khan
Khan, the nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, acted in several hit films between 2008 and 2015 before stepping away from the industry. His participation in the protest had already led to a police complaint; the "leave India" notice marks a sharp escalation and the first such action against a public figure in the ongoing agitation against the election commission.
Sources:
- Bollywood actor Imran Khan asked to leave India after participating in protest, media says (Reuters)
- Anti-CEC protest LIVE: FRRO asks actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28 (Hindustan Times)
