Imran Khan has moved the Bombay High Court against a notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which directed him to “Leave India” by October 28. The court is scheduled to hear his plea on October 26. As the actor waits for relief, Lekha Washington has spoken up about the trolling he has faced over the last few weeks. Through a cryptic Instagram story, the model quietly responded to critics who targeted both Khan and her.
Lekha Washington shares trolls’ comments on citizenship
Lekha posted screenshots of remarks directed at her and Imran regarding citizenship. One comment said, “Failed actors had become very much concerned about nation,” and another read, “Oh you are not even a citizen.. Now i guess you will be sent out and wont able to keep your foot in my soil again.”
Her following Instagram story carried a reflective message: “We are made of air water each other what we do to the air we do to ourselves what we do to the water we do to ourselves what we do to each other we do to ourselves.”
Why Imran Khan received the ‘Leave India’ notice
On October 10, Imran visited Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan with Lekha and his cousin Zayn Marie Khan, joining a CJP protest that demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Mumbai Police detained him during the demonstration. Kirit Somaiya later objected to his alleged participation, arguing that Imran holds American citizenship. The police subsequently issued him a ‘Leave India’ notice, asking him to leave the country by October 28.
Imran Khan calls FRRO notice arbitrary and illegal
Imran has approached the Bombay High Court against the notice served by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai, calling the action arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional. The matter will be heard on October 26. As per a Bar And Bench report, Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond told the court that the FRRO notice was issued because Imran tried to join the CJP protest but was stopped midway, after which the actor had to turn back. He added that the Central government has already received a copy of the petition and sought an urgent hearing on October 21. However, the court fixed the hearing for October 26 so that the FRRO could take instructions on the plea.
Imran Khan’s legal team seeks quashing of the notice
On October 19, the actor’s legal team, headed by advocate Zulfikar Memon, brought the matter up before a division bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna in the High Court, pressing for an urgent hearing. Khan’s petition asks the court to quash the October 14 notice, arguing that it fails to name the provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, he is accused of violating. He has also contended that the notice was issued without a show-cause notice or any opportunity for him to be heard.
