Actor Imran Khan, in his challenge to a Leave India Notice, has told the court that he went near Mumbai’s August Kranti Maidan on October 10 only “being curious about what was happening on the ground as far as student protesters were concerned”.
Both the EC and BJP have rejected the allegations. Foreign citizens are not allowed to participate in political activity in India, though OCI-holders otherwise are given greater rights, such as limitless stay and the right to own property, among others. The petition explains what happened on the day he was detained.
Imran Khan, known mainly for his role in the 2008 romcom ‘Jaane Tu… A US citizen by birth, he has been a resident of India since the age of 2 and holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, the petition stresses. It says Imran Khan travelled with his family via the Bandra-Worli Sea Link at around 4.30 pm and reached the vicinity of Nana Chowk around 5 pm.
When police told him the area was restricted, his “curiosity ended”, and he complied with the directions “and proceeded towards his parked vehicle”, reads his writ petition in the Bombay High Court against the notice directing him to leave the country by October 28. The protest was part of an ongoing wave of demonstrations mainly in New Delhi and other places like Mumbai over alleged electoral fraud by the ruling BJP “in collusion” with the Election Commission. Ya Jaane Na’, has said in his petition that no protest as such was being held when he came to the spot. He found the road to the maidan barricaded and asked police about the closure, since “apart from police personnel and members of the media, no protesters were present at the location”, it says. At about 5.19 pm, police “suddenly and in an unprovoked manner” detained him and his family and later took them to Yellow Gate police station, and he was later allowed to leave.
