Bombay HC Questions Actor Imran Khan Over Protest, Says OCI Cardholders Have No Right to Participate

November 2, 2026

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday passed sharp remarks while hearing a plea by actor Imran Khan challenging the Foreigners Regional Registration Office’s (FRRO) Leave India Notice and said that having an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card cannot entitle one to indulge in protests.

The bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait M. Sethna sought answers from the actor regarding his alleged involvement in the protest on October 10 in Mumbai.

“If this happened in any other country they would have been deported,” the court said.

A lawyer representing the actor said that he has never been called to answer questions; however, the court asked him to prove that he did not participate in the protest.

The state government told the court that a case has been filed against the actor and stated that he has been found involved in the protest. Further, the actor’s posts on social media were cited by the court as he was misrepresenting himself of not being involved in the protest.

Unconditional Apology Needed

The lawyer representing the actor said that he has an American passport and has been trying to find work since 2006. He has even offered to file an undertaking that he was not involved in the protest in any way.

The court said that any apology should be made unconditionally. The actor was asked why he had not applied for citizenship in India even though he was born, lived and worked there.

“Why don’t you apply for Indian citizenship? You were born here, you work here, earn here and live here,” Chief Justice said.

The actor had been living in India since childhood and has a presence on social media. Therefore, the actor will have to prove that he was not involved in the protest.

The bench said that since the actor is an OCI cardholder there is no relation between him and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). An OCI card does not give the right to participate in protests.

The court warned that there must be no breach of rules for OCI cardholders.

What Was The Imran Khan Controversy?

The controversy happened when it was alleged that the actor participated in a protest on October 10 calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The actor was then arrested by the police.

Since the actor is an American citizen and holds an OCI card, he was made to face consequences of the rules which apply to foreign nationals. The FRRO issued the actor a notice asking him to leave India.

The actor contested this by approaching the Bombay High Court seeking to cancel the notice as it was illegal and unfair.

The actor’s petition was heard on Monday after he was granted interim relief until November 2 in an earlier hearing on October 27.