Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Monday criticised actor Imran Khan, a US citizen, for taking part in a protest over the CEC-SIR issue, saying the fundamental right to protest is available only to Indian citizens. Khan’s counsel tendered an unconditional apology and an undertaking that he would not join any protest in the future.
A bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna said India’s magnanimity is such that a US citizen holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card is first issued a notice asking him to leave the country, instead of being deported at once. Khan’s counsel Venkatesh Dhond immediately gave the undertaking, along with the apology.
The bench then posted Khan’s plea against the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) notice, which asked him to leave the country by October 28 for taking part in last month’s protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue in Mumbai, for further hearing on December 7. The court extended its earlier order keeping the notice in abeyance until then.
Khan moved the court against what he called an arbitrary and unconstitutional Leave India Notice, saying it violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. On October 20, the court had kept the notice in abeyance until November 2. During Monday’s hearing, the bench also remarked that Khan is not affected by the SIR and described his participation as instigation.
(With inputs from media reports)