The FRRO issued a notice on Oct 10, 2026, ordering the actor to depart by Oct 28 after he was detained during a protest in Mumbai. The protest, held at the August Kranti Maidaan, demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and drew participants including Khan’s partner Lekha Washington and cousin Zayne Marie Khan, all of whom were briefly held by police before release.
Kirit Somaiya, a BJP leader, filed a complaint with the police alleging that Khan, despite being an American citizen, violated protest participation rules, prompting the police to forward the case to the FRRO.
Under Section 7 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, the Central Government can issue orders regulating foreigners’ stay, and the FRRO used that provision to issue the deportation notice.
Samajwadi Party chief Abu Azmi has condemned the move, saying the actor remains connected to India and that the notice suppresses free expression. The actor posted a photo inside a police van, stating he is there to challenge the restriction on movement.