Actor Imran Khan seeks evidence from FRRO, questions grounds for OCI cancellation amid CEC protest row

Actor Imran Khan has submitted a written response to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), stating that the grounds cited in its show-cause notice regarding the cancellation of his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status are nebulous and contradictory.

The FRRO issued the show-cause notice on Oct 17 to Khan, a US national, following his alleged participation in an anti-CEC demonstration organized by Tushar Gandhi of Hum Bharat Ke Log on Oct 10 at August Kranti Maidan. An earlier notice issued on Oct 14 directing him to exit India has been challenged before the Bombay High Court, which has scheduled the next hearing for Nov 2.

In his Oct 22 reply, Khan asserted that a Mumbai Police report referenced by the FRRO was incomplete and requested detailed evidence to help him formulate an effective response. He noted that the grounds in the show-cause notice (SCN) are nebulous and contradictory, demanding the full disclosure of all materials relied upon by the FRRO to maintain transparency, fairness, and accountability under the Citizenship Act.


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Citing Supreme Court rulings, Khan highlighted that principles of natural justice mandate informing an OCI cardholder of all relevant details prior to taking steps to revoke their status. He pointed out that he has not been provided with the report submitted by Mumbai Police or any associated materials that led to the issuance of the show-cause notice.

Khan requested the immediate disclosure of all materials on record that formed the basis of the FRRO's provisional view that his OCI card is liable to be cancelled. He urged the authorities to supply these documents promptly, given that the Oct 17 notice allowed him only a 15-day window, ending Nov 1, to submit his response.

Reiterating that the FRRO seems to have reached a provisional opinion, Khan cited Supreme Court precedents to argue that he must be granted access to all police evidence and be allowed to inspect it to properly defend himself against the SCN and the authority's preliminary stance.

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Additionally, the actor highlighted that a quoted statement attributed to him in the SCN, “which has also been relied upon by the Mumbai police in its report, is incomplete.”

“Mumbai police have not even attempted to record my statement in connection with the registration of FIR,” he added. The police had registered a First Information Report (FIR) for unlawful assembly against multiple individuals, including Khan, alleging his presence at the protest site.

The FRRO originally served the actor, who carries a US passport, a ‘Leave India notice’ on Oct 14 under the provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025 for alleged violations. On Oct 27, the Bombay High Court put the Leave India notice in abeyance after the Union Government requested a brief adjournment to Nov 2 to allow Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to represent the Centre.