PROTEST NOW CARRIES AN EXIT DEADLINE: ACTOR IMRAN KHAN TOLD TO LEAVE INDIA BY OCTOBER 28 AFTER ANTI-CEC DEMONSTRATION
October 15, 2026
NEW DELHI — Actor Imran Khan, known for his role in Delhi Belly and as the nephew of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, has reportedly been directed by Mumbai Police to leave India by October 28, 2026, following his participation in a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to a report citing news agency IANS and police sources, Mumbai Police issued a notice to the actor under a relevant provision of the Immigration Act, citing his status as a non-Indian citizen. The notice reportedly instructs him to leave the country within the stipulated period.
Khan participated in a demonstration at Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10, joining the wider agitation against Gyanesh Kumar over controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and other supporters have been demanding the Chief Election Commissioner’s resignation, alleging irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process.
Police briefly detained Khan during the Mumbai demonstration. The actor subsequently shared a photograph on social media showing himself seated inside a police van, drawing attention to his participation in the protest and the police action that followed.
Mumbai Police said the action against him was taken because he had participated in the demonstration despite not being an Indian citizen. The reported notice has now placed the actor’s immigration status at the centre of a developing controversy surrounding the protests.
The demonstration in Mumbai coincided with the CJP’s planned protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. Authorities in the national capital mounted a substantial security operation to restrict the gathering, with heavy deployment of security personnel and restrictions affecting internet and metro services in parts of the city. The operation also resulted in the detention of thousands of people, including prominent opposition leaders, according to the report.
The latest development adds a new dimension to the confrontation over protests against the Election Commission’s handling of electoral-roll revision. While demonstrators have framed their campaign around electoral accountability, police authorities have invoked legal and public-order restrictions in responding to the gatherings.
For Imran Khan, the immediate issue is the reported October 28 deadline. The notice, as described in the report, is based on his non-Indian citizenship and his participation in the protest. Further details about his response, any challenge to the notice, or subsequent legal proceedings were not provided in the report.
The episode has intensified attention on the intersection of immigration law, political demonstrations and the rights of individuals to participate in public protests. Any further action will depend on the applicable legal process and the steps taken by the actor and the authorities in the days ahead.
