Photo: Collected
The authorities have ordered Bollywood actor Imran Khan to leave India by 28 October for taking part in protests demanding electoral reform and the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Imran, a nephew of Bollywood perfectionist star Aamir Khan, is a United States citizen and has been staying in India on an Overseas Citizen of India, or OCI, card.
As people of Indian origin, OCI card holders are allowed to come to and stay in India, but they cannot vote or contest elections.
The BBC reported that in a statement on Thursday the police said, ‘Imran Khan took part in the movement in Mumbai demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.’ The police also said the Foreigners Regional Registration Office had served him a notice on the charge of violating the law by taking part in the protest.
Imran’s lawyer said the actor would petition the Bombay High Court against the order. There is no legal provision or rule barring OCI card holders from taking part in protests. The Press Trust of India reported that Imran’s petition against the Mumbai police notice described the step as ‘harsh’.
Imran Khan became known with the popular 2008 romantic comedy ‘Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na’. Earlier he had acted as a child artiste in popular films such as ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ in 1988 and ‘Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar’ in 1992.
After his debut in a lead role, Imran acted in films such as ‘I Hate Luv Storys’, ‘Mere Brother Ki Dulhan’ and ‘Delhi Belly’. After a break of more than 10 years he returned to acting this year with the Netflix film ‘Adhure Hum Adhure Tum’; the notice to leave India came soon afterwards.
Imran took part in a protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, on 10 October. This broader Gen Z-led movement is campaigning for the resignation of India’s top election official and for electoral reform over allegations of vote rigging. India’s Election Commission has denied the allegations.
The police statement said, ‘Imran Khan took part in the movement although he is not an Indian citizen.’ Kirit Somaiya, a leader of India’s ruling BJP, made allegations against Imran, saying the actor was involved in a conspiracy to spread anarchy in India.
Imran did not respond directly to Somaiya’s allegations. But on taking part in the protest he told reporters, ‘I have no demands. I came here as a citizen, as a person living in this city (Mumbai). I came to see why freedom of movement is being restricted and why people’s voices are being silenced.’ He also said he had not gone to the protest as the representative of any organisation.
After the protest, police briefly detained Imran along with other demonstrators. Posting a photograph of himself from inside a vehicle in police custody on Instagram, he wrote, ‘Feels like I am going for a drive.’ The post drew more than two million reactions on social media.
At the CJP’s call, thousands of people joined marches in Delhi, Mumbai and other parts of India last week, demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation ahead of important state elections. On Monday, leaders of several major Indian opposition parties, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, led a march of thousands of protesters from Connaught Place to the Supreme Court in Delhi. On Wednesday, two top CJP leaders were sent to jail for five days after being arrested on charges of trespassing at a protest site in Delhi. The CJP has called fresh protests in the capital on Friday evening.
