In brief
In the wake of a large youth‑led protest in Mumbai, authorities have ordered Bollywood actor Imran Khan to leave India by 28 October. Khan, who holds an Overseas Citizen of India card but cannot vote, was briefly detained after speaking to reporters on behalf of the protest. His lawyer plans to challenge the order in the Bombay High Court. The move comes amid a nationwide movement calling for the resignation of the Election Commissioner and electoral reforms. The case highlights the complexities of citizenship, protest rights and political dissent in India.
Indian officials have demanded that Bollywood actor Imran Khan, nephew of Aamir Khan, must leave the country by 28 October after he joined a protest in Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The actor, an American citizen, has an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which allows travel but does not confer voting rights.
The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a Gen‑Z movement that has been staging demonstrations across the country. Police noted that Khan participated in the agitation despite not holding Indian citizenship, and the Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office served him a notice citing violations of the law for his participation.
Khan’s lawyer argues that the law does not prohibit OCI cardholders from engaging in peaceful protests. He has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court to challenge the expulsion order, calling it “drastic”. The press trust has reported that the lawyer will seek an injunction against the city’s notice.
The actor, known for the 2008 hit Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na and later films such as I Hate Luv Storys and Delhi Belly, is set to return to cinema with the Netflix drama Adhure Hum Adhure Tum after a decade‑long hiatus.
Following the Mumbai demonstration, police detained Khan and other participants. He later posted a photo from inside a police detention van on Instagram with the caption “Apparently I’m going for a drive.” The post amassed more than two million likes, sparking support from fans and activists alike.
Across the country, thousands gathered in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities demanding the resignation of the Election Commissioner ahead of critical state elections. Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, marched from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court, while CJP officials faced jail time for alleged trespassing at protest sites. The CJP has called for another rally on Friday evening in the capital.
