The Bombay High Court on Tuesday postponed the hearing on actor Imran Khan’s appeal against the Foreigners Regional Registration Office’s (FRRO) “Leave India Notice” to Monday, November 2. The court also ordered that the notice remain in abeyance until the next hearing.
The hearing was postponed after the Centre sought more time, and Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh assured the court that no action would be taken against Khan until the next hearing.
Senior advocate Venkatesh Dhond, representing Imran Khan, challenged an intervention application that raised a preliminary objection. He argued that the civil writ petition challenging the FRRO’s actions could not be heard on the criminal side.
Court Seeks Registry Verification
The court then asked whether Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, had a similar objection. It said the matter would be referred to the High Court registry for verification and clarification. The court orally observed that it “did not see a criminality attached to it” and that the matter involved “civil consequences.”
ASG Anil Singh informed the court that Mehta would appear on Monday, November 2, as he was occupied with another matter before the Supreme Court.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait M. Sethna stated, “The order under challenge shall be kept in abeyance till the next date.”
The case stems from a complaint by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who alleged that Imran Khan had violated the law by participating in a demonstration in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
After the police forwarded an FIR, the FRRO issued the notice on October 14 over an alleged violation of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
"The Bombay High Court on Tuesday postponed the hearing on actor Imran Khan’s appeal against the Foreigners Regional Registration Office’s (F…"
