Imran Khan, a Bollywood actor known as the nephew of superstar Aamir Khan, holds United States citizenship and also possesses an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Though the OCI scheme allows lifelong visa‑free travel to India, its holders are still classified as foreign nationals under Indian law. This dual status became relevant when Khan appeared at a political rally in Mumbai.
On 10th October 2026, Khan joined a demonstration organised in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at August Kranti Maidan. The rally was directed against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. According to police records, Khan was detained along with his partner and cousin. The demonstration drew a large crowd, and authorities reported that around 400 people were taken into custody during the event, including members of the ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log’ organisation and activists from the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Mumbai Police say, "A Leave India Notice (LIN) has been issued to actor Imran Khan, who is the nephew of actor Aamir Khan. As per the notice, he has been told to leave the country by 28th October. Imran Khan had participated in the agitation at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. Following the protest, he was detained by the Police. Imran Khan had participated in the agitation, despite not being an Indian citizen."
The brief’s chronology notes a further incident on 15th October 2026, when Khan again participated in a protest and was detained for attending that rally. While the sources do not specify the cause of this second gathering, the timeline confirms both his participation and detention on that date.
Although Khan holds an OCI card, the scheme does not confer Indian citizenship.
Following the October 10 protest, Mumbai Police issued a formal directive instructing Khan to leave India by 28th October 2026. The order was framed under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, specifically invoking Sections 29 and 7 of the Immigration Act. Police described the action as a response to alleged breaches of immigration rules by a foreign national who had taken part in a political demonstration.
Actor Imran khan ordered to leave India by 28th Oct for his protest activities in Mumbai that are in violation of Visa conditions and the provisions of Foreigners Act. https://t.co/5VLYdKwSrR
Although Khan holds an OCI card, the scheme does not confer Indian citizenship. Official explanations accompanying the police notice clarified that OCI cardholders remain foreign nationals for the purpose of immigration regulation. Consequently, despite his familial ties to Bollywood and his long‑standing connection to India, Khan is subject to the same exit requirements that apply to any non‑citizen.
The notice cited the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, as the legislative basis for the exit order. This act consolidates provisions governing the entry, stay, and departure of foreigners in India. Sections 29 and 7, which were invoked, deal with the power of authorities to require a foreign national to leave the country and with penalties for non‑compliance, respectively.
Coverage of the incident shows mixed perspectives. Mumbai Police are described in some reports as neutral, simply stating the legal grounds for the directive, while other accounts adopt a critical tone, questioning the proportionality of using immigration law to curb political dissent. Additionally, Commentator Kirit Somaiya took a neutral stance on the matter, neither endorsing nor condemning the police action.
When asked about his participation, Imran Khan offered a brief statement: “I don’t have demands. I am here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city.” The quote reflects his view of himself as a resident exercising a right to be present, despite his formal citizenship status.
As the October 28 deadline approaches, the situation remains focused on whether Khan will comply with the police instruction to depart India. The broader implications involve how immigration statutes are applied to foreign nationals who engage in public political activity, a question that continues to echo beyond this single case.