{
  "id": 14639481,
  "title": "Imran Khan faces BJP deportation calls: What really happened at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan protest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/imran-khan-faces-bjp-deportation-calls-what-really-happened-at",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T07:12:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/imran-khan-faces-bjp-deportation-calls-what-really-happened-at-mumbais-august-kranti-maidan-protest-1.500711369"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 10, Imran Khan was photographed in the back of a police vehicle, captioning the image \"Apparently I'm going for a drive.\" This incident marked the start of a night that would make him a prominent figure in Mumbai and a target of calls for his expulsion from the country. Imran had arrived at August Kranti Maidan to inquire about the well-being of friends who had been arrested during protests earlier that day. According to his partner, Lekha Washington, the group of five made their way to the scene around 5 pm. Upon arrival, they encountered barricades and a large media presence, which quickly surrounded Imran and his companions. Despite his attempts to communicate, his words were quickly silenced by the presence of cameras. Lekha described how police officers intervened, taking her and Zayn into custody and subjecting them to bruises. The entire group was then placed into a police vehicle and driven around the city for several hours before being stopped from using public transportation. Photos and videos of the three detainees were shared online, and Lekha later posted a reel confirming their safety and a heartfelt Instagram Story of her hugging Imran and Zayn upon returning home. While the detention period ended, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya took issue with Imran's participation in the protest. As a holder of an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, Somaiya questioned whether Imran, who he labeled a \"foreign citizen,\" could engage in a political gathering that lacked official permission. Holding an OCI card himself, Somaiya argued that Imran's involvement violated OCI provisions and visa conditions. He called for the actor to be charged and deported immediately. However, Imran has not publicly responded to these deportation demands. The protests were centered around the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar due to alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The two sides differed on the legitimacy of the protest, with Mumbai Police asserting that no permission was sought and that such demonstrations were prohibited by Bombay High Court directives in August Kranti Maidan. CJP supporters claimed that they had emailed the police to request permission, but received no response. Over 400 individuals were reported detained throughout the protests.",
  "summary": "\"Apparently I’m going for a drive.” That was the caption on the selfie Imran Khan posted from the back of a police vehicle on October 10. It was a wry moment in an evening that has since made him one of the most talked-about names in Mumbai, and a target of calls for his expulsion from the country. CJP protest: Actor Imran Khan detained over demand for India poll chief’s resignation Imran Khan…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Salman Khan twins with 91-year-old dad Salim, calls him ‘real monster’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/salman-khan-twins-with-91-year-old-dad-salim-calls-him-real-monster",
        "published": "2026-10-15T08:45:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}