Bollywood actor Imran Khan has been asked to leave India by October 28 after participating in a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Indian media reported on Thursday.
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), a federal government agency responsible for monitoring foreign nationals in India, issued a notice to the actor over his participation in the demonstration, according to reports by The Indian Express and The Times of India.
Khan, 43, is a US citizen who holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. Indian authorities reportedly consider his participation in the political protest a violation of immigration rules governing foreign nationals.
The actor joined a demonstration at Mumbai's August Kranti Maidan on October 10, organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a Gen Z-led movement demanding electoral reforms and Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in voter lists.
India's opposition parties have accused the Election Commission of manipulating voter rolls in ways they say could benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The poll panel has denied the allegations.
Police said Khan participated in the protest despite not being an Indian citizen. A complaint against him was reportedly filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who accused the actor of being involved in a conspiracy to spread anarchy in the country.
Khan was briefly detained alongside other protesters following the demonstration.
On the same day, the actor posted a photograph on Instagram showing himself inside what appeared to be a police detention van, captioned: “Apparently I'm going for a drive.” The post received more than two million likes, according to media reports.
Speaking to reporters about his participation, Khan said he was attending as an individual rather than representing any organization.
“I don't have demands. I'm here as a citizen, as a person who lives in this city,” he said, adding that he wanted to understand why freedom of movement was being restricted and people's voices suppressed.
Khan has not publicly commented on the notice asking him to leave India, and Reuters reported that he did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The actor, a nephew of Bollywood star Aamir Khan, rose to prominence with the 2008 romantic comedy Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na. He subsequently appeared in films including I Hate Luv Storys, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan and Delhi Belly before stepping away from acting for more than a decade.
He is returning to acting this year with the Netflix film Adhure Hum Adhure Tum, according to media reports.
The notice comes amid growing protests across India over alleged voter-list irregularities and demands for electoral reforms. Thousands of demonstrators marched in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities over the weekend.
On Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures led a march towards the Supreme Court in New Delhi, demanding action over the allegations against the Election Commission.
Two senior CJP leaders were also sent to jail for five days on Wednesday after being arrested over alleged trespassing at a protest site in Delhi.
The CJP has called for another demonstration in the capital on Friday evening.
