The Bombay High Court has granted interim relief to actor Imran Khan by keeping in abeyance a notice directing him to leave India by October 28. The Court deferred further hearing on his challenge to the notice until November 2 after the Centre sought more time and assured that no coercive action would be taken against him in the meantime.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna heard the matter on Tuesday. Senior Advocate Venkatesh Dhond appeared for Imran Khan, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Union government.

Imran Khan, a US citizen holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, had approached the High Court challenging a Leave India Notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) on October 14. The notice directed him to leave the country by October 28 under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

The notice followed an incident on October 10, when he was briefly detained by Mumbai Police near August Kranti Maidan, where a protest was being held seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. He has submitted that he was present to see what was happening and was neither an organiser nor a participant in the protest.

In his petition, Imran Khan has challenged the notice as arbitrary, illegal, disproportionate and unconstitutional. He has argued that the authorities failed to specify the statutory provisions allegedly violated or disclose the material relied upon to direct him to leave India. He has also contended that the notice was issued without giving him an opportunity to be heard.

He has sought quashing of the notice and interim protection against coercive measures, including deportation, blacklisting or action affecting his OCI status, while his petition remains pending.

The High Court’s interim protection will remain in place until the next hearing on November 2, 2026