Mumbai: After issuing actor Imran Khan a leave India notice on Oct 14, Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Mumbai, on Saturday sent him a second notice, this time asking him to show-cause why his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status should not be cancelled.Khan, a US national, was granted OCI cardholder status on Dec 15, 2006. To decide if OCI registration should be cancelled, Centre views as relevant the “nature and circumstances” of activities undertaken in India and their implications.The notice cites his presence at the August Kranti Maidan protest in support of CJP’s anti-CEC stir in Delhi. The notice says no police permission was granted for the protest and a case was registered against him and other protesters for unlawful assembly. FRRO has sought his reply in 15 days as the law provides for a hearing before any action is taken to revoke an OCI card under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955. FRRO acknowledges, though, that the FIR registration and detention by themselves are not conclusive proof of the allegations or an automatic ground for cancellation of his OCI registration, nor does participation, by itself, establish a ground for cancellation. However, FRRO said, the nature, circumstances and implications of acts on the interest of the public, and the OCI’s conduct, are to be examined, where relevant, to see if registration should be cancelled under section 7D of the Citizenship Act.The Citizenship Act Section 7D (e) empowers revocation of OCI in the interests of the sovereignty, integrity of India and security of India, friendly relations with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public. Centre said it was of the “provisional opinion” that Khan’s registration as an OCI Cardholder may be liable to cancellation under this section, subject to his reply and explanations.FRRO cited an SC ruling to say national security falls under a “broad range of public interests” when legal powers are directed towards the protection of the interests of the state and the public, based always on facts as well.Khan’s advocate Zulfiquar Memon of MZM Legal said, “As his legal representatives, we are currently examining the contents of the new show-cause notice issued to Imran and we look forward to complying and cooperating with the FRRO in terms of replying to the notice. However, we will take this point up before the high court when the matter comes up for hearing so that we get clarity on the status of the earlier issued leave India notice in light of this new show-cause notice issued by the FRRO.”Centre said his participation, detention and related circumstances warrant scrutiny on whether his continued OCI status is consistent with the interests of the general public, and has factored in the distinction between Indians and OCIs and the limited and regulated rights available to OCIs.
