Bombay HC to hear on October 26 plea filed by actor Imran Khan against ‘leave India notice’

The Bombay High Court will hear on October 26 the petition filed by actor Imran Khan, a U.S. citizen holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, challenging a police notice directing him to leave India by October 28 for attending a political protest.

Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, appearing for Mr. Khan, mentioned the plea on Monday (October 19, 2026) before a Bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna, seeking an urgent hearing.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the Union government, sought time as he received a copy of the petition only on Monday (October 19) morning.

The court then said it would hear the plea on October 26.

Counsel Dhond sought an earlier date, submitting that as per the notice, Mr. Khan has been asked to leave the country by October 28.

The court then asked if the petitioner (Khan) had any other criminal cases pending against him, to which counsel Dhond replied in the negative.

"He (Khan) has no criminal antecedents and no case filed or pending against him. He has been living in India since he was two years old. He did not even attend any protest. He had reached halfway when he was detained by the police and then let go," counsel Dhond said.

The court then said that a hearing on October 26 would be fine. It directed Mr. Khan to add the Maharashtra government as respondent to the petition.