Filmmaker Kiran Rao, has reacted to the ‘leave India’ notice issued to actor Imran Khan, the nephew of her ex-husband, Aamir Khan.
Kiran Rao reacts to Imran Khan’s ‘leave India’ notice
Taking to her Instagram Stories, Kiran shared a post about the Bollywood actor being asked to leave the country by the end of October, over allegations that he breached immigration laws after joining a protest against the election commission chief. Sharing the post, Kiran wrote, “Wah, now it’s Mumbai Police?”
Why was Imran Khan served a notice?
According to reports, Imran Khan holds an American passport. The actor was issued a notice by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) after participating in a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Action has since been initiated under Sections 29 and 7 of the Immigration Act over allegations that “Under relevant provisions of the Foreigners/Immigration Act, foreign nationals are prohibited from participating in political protests or political activities on Indian soil.“
Kiran Rao defends Imran Khan
Sharing another post on the same, Kiran defended Imran saying, “43 years old. 40 of those years in India. Studied here. Worked here. Succeeded here. Failed here. Loved here. Fought here.”Kiran was not the only one to express her disapproval of the notice. Hrithik Roshan’s partner, Saba Azad also reacted to the development earlier in the day. Sharing a post about the notice, she wrote, “What!? This is absolute BS.”
Imran Khan to move Bombay High Court over notice
Imran holds US citizenship and has an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. He was briefly detained last Saturday after joining the CJP protest in Mumbai with his partner, Lekha Washington, and cousin Zayn Marie Khan. All three were released later the same evening.Meanwhile, Imran Khan is set to move the Bombay High Court, challenging the notice issued to him to leave the country by October 28 for allegedly violating provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act by participating in a protest in solidarity with the agitation in Delhi against the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).Khan, a US national, is likely to file a petition in the High Court by Friday or Monday through his advocate Zulfikar Memon from MZM Legal.
Imran Khan’s lawyer reacts to notice
As per the plea, Khan’s lawyer has said that rules do not prohibit OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders from participating in a protest. The petition termed the Mumbai police notice, asking the 43-year-old actor to leave the country by October 28, as “drastic”.
About the order served to Imran Khan
According to PTI, Khan was served a departure order after authorities invoked statutory provisions under Section 7 (2)(C) and Section 29 of The Immigration and Foreigners Act, which grant powers to the government to restrict the movement of foreign nationals and enforce their mandatory removal.Under Section 7 (2)(C), the government holds authority to issue directions prohibiting, regulating, or restricting the presence or continued presence of any foreigner, specifically empowering officials to order that an individual “shall not remain in India or in any specified area therein.”Additionally, the notice invokes Section 29, which permits the government to direct the removal of a foreign national for contravening any provisions, rules, or orders of the Act, or pursuant to an adverse security report. The section equips law enforcement officers with all reasonable powers necessary to enforce the directive.Once Khan’s petition is filed, the plea is likely to be mentioned before a division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna for urgent hearing.
