The entertainment and political circles are buzzing after Mumbai Police issued a ‘Leave India’ notice to actor Imran Khan, the nephew of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan. The actor, who holds an American passport, has been directed to depart the country by October 28. This move follows his participation in a protest at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan, where he joined calls for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Khan was detained by police last Saturday, an event he addressed with a nonchalant social media post featuring himself in a police van with the caption, “Apparently I’m going for a drive.”
Legal trouble for the actor escalated after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya formally demanded his arrest and deportation. Somaiya alleges that Khan, as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, violated visa conditions by engaging in political agitation. The BJP leader accused the actor of “political extremism,” claiming he submitted evidence of Khan’s speeches and remarks to the authorities to prove a misuse of his OCI status. During the protest, Khan defended his presence, stating he attended as a concerned resident of the city to question why freedom of movement was being restricted and why voices were being suppressed.
The situation has sparked a heated debate regarding free speech and citizenship rights. CJP activist Abhijit Dipke took to social media to highlight what he perceives as a glaring double standard. Drawing a comparison to American singer Mary Millben, who has frequently expressed support for the ruling party, Dipke questioned the disparity in treatment. “Mary Millben, an American, can speak in favour of the BJP. But Imran, an OCI cardholder, can’t say anything against the BJP,” Dipke wrote on X. The actor currently faces action under Sections 29 and 7 of the Immigration Act as authorities pursue the deportation process.