Actor Imran Khan has challenged the grounds cited by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in its notice seeking cancellation of his Overseas
Citizen of India (OCI) status, describing them as “nebulous and contradictory”. In his response to the authorities, the actor has demanded disclosure of all documents, evidence and other material relied upon in the decision-making process, arguing that access to these records is essential to ensure fairness, accountability and transparency. As per latest information obtained by Times Now, Imran Khan has written to FRRO citing that the grounds it has specified to cancel his Overseas Citizen of India status are nebulous and contradictory. The actor has asked the FRRO to disclose all the materials and evidences to ensure fairness, accountability and transparency in the decision making process. Khan said he was not supplied with the material given by Mumbai Police against him based on which the notice was formulated. The latest development comes amid an ongoing legal battle over the action initiated against the actor following his detention at a protest in Mumbai earlier this month.
Why Has FRRO Issued A Notice To Imran Khan?
The controversy stems from an October 10 gathering near August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, where demonstrators protested against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Khan was briefly detained by police during the incident. On October 14, the FRRO issued a ‘Leave India Notice’ directing the US citizen to leave the country by October 28, allegedly for violating immigration rules through his presence at the protest.
Three days later, on October 17, the agency issued a separate show-cause notice asking Khan to explain why his OCI registration should not be cancelled. The notice referred to Section 7D(e) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which empowers the government to cancel OCI registration on specified grounds, including national security and the interests of the general public.
Khan has disputed the basis of the action, maintaining that the allegations against him remain unproven.
Imran Khan Says Police Report Was Not Shared With Him
In his response to the FRRO, Khan has argued that the material relied upon by the Mumbai Police was not supplied to him, including a report that allegedly formed the basis of the agency’s notice. He has also objected to an incomplete statement attributed to him in the notice, which was reportedly relied upon by the police.
The actor has said that the police did not attempt to record his statement in connection with the FIR. He has sought access to the evidence so that he can examine the allegations and submit a meaningful response within the stipulated timeframe. The show-cause notice gave him 15 days to explain why his OCI status should not be revoked.
Bombay High Court Grants Interim Relief
Khan had earlier approached the Bombay High Court, challenging the Leave India Notice as arbitrary and unconstitutional. His petition argued that he was not given an opportunity to respond before being directed to leave India. The actor, who holds US citizenship and has lived in India since the age of two, has held OCI status since 2006. He has maintained that he was not an organiser of the October 10 protest and was detained while returning to his vehicle.
On October 27, the Bombay High Court kept the Leave India Notice in abeyance until November 2 after the Centre sought additional time for the hearing. The government also assured the court that no coercive action would be taken against him before the next hearing. The court's interim order relates to the departure notice; the separate proceedings concerning cancellation of his OCI status remain a matter of dispute.
