Mumbai Police has directed actor Imran Khan, nephew of Aamir Khan, to leave India by October 28 over his participation in a protest at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan. The demonstration called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Khan was detained by police during the protest.
According to Mumbai Police, action has been initiated against the actor under the relevant provision of the Immigration Act, as he is not an Indian citizen and allegedly took part in the protest.
Imran is reportedly a US citizen and holds an OCI card (Overseas Citizen of India).
Letter to Mumbai Police by BJP MP
Earlier, former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya had written to Mumbai police seeking action against Imran for taking part in the protest held in Mumbai on Saturday in support of Cockroach Janta Party despite being a “foreign citizen”.
In his letter to Mumbai’s Joint Commissioner of Police Manoj Kumar Sharma, the BJP leader sought to know if Khan was legally permitted to take part in the agitation.
Somaiya claimed Khan was a “foreign citizen” and asked if he had obtained permission to participate in the protest.
Somaiya asked Mumbai police to conduct an inquiry into the issue and take appropriate action. In a post on X, the BJP leader said Khan should be deported immediately.
‘I am here as a citizen’
However, at the protests, Imran Khan clarified that he was not present at the protests with any specific demands but had come forward in his capacity as a citizen of Mumbai. He said he wanted to understand why freedom of movement was being restricted and why people’s voices were being suppressed.
“I don’t have demands. I am here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city. I am here to see why freedom of movement is being restricted. Why are people’s voices being suppressed? That is why I am here,” the actor said.
He further stated that he was not affiliated with any organisation and was participating in an individual capacity.
Emphasising his position, Imran added, “I don’t have any right to demand anything from people. I am not a part of any organisation. I will stand as a representative.”
“Apparently, I am going for a drive,” the actor had posted on a social media platform from a police van.
A video later surfaced, which showed Khan responding to a reporter’s query, while he was being forced into the police vehicle, about his participation in the protest. “I have no demands. I am not part of any organisation,” he said.
Khan was also seen asking the police, “What have I done? Why am I being manhandled?”