Actor Imran Khan apologises to Bombay High Court for joining protests
The US citizen and OCI cardholder tendered an unconditional apology after the court questioned his right to participate in electoral roll protests.
Actor Imran Khan tendered an unconditional apology on Monday in the Bombay high court after being reprimanded for participating in a protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The court questioned his right to participate in the agitation in Mumbai, noting that as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, he cannot be treated at par with Indian citizens.
According to reports by The Times of India, the bench led by Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra asked the actor to clarify his presence at the protest. The court remarked that an OCI cardholder has no right to criticise the country and suggested that if an Indian citizen had conducted such protests in the United States, they would have been sent back on the next immediate flight.
The legal proceedings involve a Leave India Notice (LIN) issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on October 14. The notice directed Khan to leave India by October 28, following his detention on October 10 during a protest against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The notice was issued after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a police complaint alleging that Khan violated visa conditions and OCI rules. The Mumbai Police subsequently forwarded an unproven FIR to the FRRO.
The high court has kept the LIN in abeyance and allowed the actor to continue staying in India until the next hearing on December 7. The court also noted that the FRRO should provide Khan an opportunity to respond to the notice, given he has lived in India for over four decades.