Bollywood Actor Imran Khan Heads to High Court to Fight Order to Leave India Over Election Protest

India's authorities have issued an order for actor Imran Khan, nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, to depart the country by October 28. The request stems from Khan's involvement in a protest advocating for electoral reforms. Although an American citizen with an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, which allows limited rights for people of Indian origin, Khan is barred from voting or contesting elections.

On Thursday, police stated that Khan had taken part in a demonstration at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan, calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office (FRRO) subsequently served him a notice for violating laws through his protest participation. As of now, Khan has not responded to the notice.

His career began with child roles in popular films such as Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar (1992). Since his lead role debut in 2008, he has starred in numerous films like I Hate Luv Storys, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, and Delhi Belly. The notice for his deportation arrives as Khan resumes acting this year through the Netflix film Adhure Hum Adhure Tum after a decade-long hiatus.

On October 10, Khan joined the protest initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement demanding electoral reforms and the resignation of India’s Chief Election Commissioner over allegations of vote fraud, which India's poll panel rejects. The BJP, however, accused Khan of "being involved in a conspiracy to spread anarchy in India."

Despite the protest, police briefly detained Khan alongside other demonstrators, a situation captured by Khan in a photo shared to his Instagram account, which garnered over two million likes. Post-protest, Khan had expressed his stance to reporters, stating, "I don't have demands. I'm here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city.

I'm here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted, why people's voices are being suppressed," adding that he was not representing any organization. The protests spread to Delhi, Mumbai, and other Indian regions, with leaders from major opposition parties, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, marching from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court in Delhi.

On Monday, top CJP officials were arrested for allegedly entering a protest zone in Delhi. The CJP has announced an additional protest for Friday evening in the capital.