GUWAHATI: The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) has issued a notice to actor Imran Khan, asking him to leave India by October 28, alleging that he violated the Foreigners Act by participating in a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan.
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Khan was detained by Mumbai Police on October 10 during the demonstration. Following the incident, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint alleging that the actor was a US citizen and had violated the Foreigners Act by taking part in the protest.
“A complaint was filed at Gamdevi police station stating that Khan had breached the Foreigners Act. The complaint was forwarded to FRRO department,” the police reportedly said.
The actor was among those who gathered at August Kranti Maidan to demand the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. His partner, actor Lekha Washington, and his cousin Zayn Marie Khan were also present at the demonstration. Mumbai Police detained all three during the protest.
Khan is believed to hold US citizenship and possess an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card rather than Indian citizenship.
Following his detention, a video of Khan saying “Jai Hind” to the police went viral on social media. In another clip, he questioned the reason for his detention, saying, “I honestly don't know why I have been brought here. They picked all of us from the streets and asked us to sit in the vans.”
He also said that he and the others detained were driven around in a police van for approximately two hours before being released.
Around 400 people were detained during the protest organised against the Chief Election Commissioner. Those detained included members of the Tushar Gandhi-led ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’ organisation and activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
During the demonstration, Khan clarified that he had not attended the protest with any specific demands but had participated as a citizen of Mumbai. He said he wanted to understand why freedom of movement was being restricted and why people’s voices were being suppressed.
The actor also stated that he was not affiliated with any organisation and had joined the demonstration in his individual capacity.
