Bombay High Court Pauses Imran Khan Departure Notice

The Bombay High Court on October 27 temporarily halted enforcement of a Foreigners Regional Registration Office notice directing actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28, while he challenges the order. The court kept the notice in abeyance until November 2, and the Centre assured it that no coercive action would be taken against him before then. The interim order leaves Khan in India while the court considers his petition, but does not decide whether the departure notice is legally valid. The next hearing is scheduled for November 2 at 3 p.m., according to reports of the court proceedings. Khan, a U.S. citizen who holds an Overseas Citizen of India card, has asked the court to set aside the notice. His petition argues that it was arbitrary and that he was not given an opportunity to respond before being directed to leave. He also disputes the allegation that he participated in the gathering or had an association with its organizers. The FRRO issued the departure notice after Khan was briefly detained at a protest near Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10. The demonstration called for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The notice...