Stories
Imran Khan's Girlfriend Lekha Washington Shares First Post After FRRO Departure Notice
- •Lekha Washington shared a selfie with Imran Khan from a detention van, captioning it with heart emojis following news of his departure notice.
- •Imran Khan received an FRRO notice to leave India by October 28 after being detained during a Mumbai protest.
- •Imran's legal team is reportedly planning to challenge the FRRO notice in the Bombay High Court, arguing that OCI holders are not explicitly barred from protesting.
- •Several industry figures, including Kiran Rao and Saba Azad, have publicly expressed support for Imran Khan and criticized the authorities' actions.
- •Imran Khan holds US citizenship as he was born in the United States and later moved to Mumbai with his mother as a child.
Key Questions Answered
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) issued a notice directing Imran Khan to leave India by October 28, 2026, because he participated in an unauthorized political protest in Mumbai against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. As an American citizen and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholder, his involvement in local political demonstrations violated immigration rules.
Imran Khan is planning to challenge the FRRO directive by filing a writ petition in the Bombay High Court through his legal team. His lawyers argue that the notice is "drastic" and that the law does not explicitly prohibit OCI cardholders from participating in protests, while also claiming he was merely passing by rather than actively participating.
Introduced in 2005 for eligible people of foreign citizenship with Indian roots, an OCI card provides a lifelong, multiple-entry visa to India alongside specific benefits for education, property, and professional activities. However, it does not grant Indian citizenship, dual citizenship, or voting rights, and holding foreign citizenship restricts political engagement in India.
