Aamir Khan Meets Raj Thackeray as Nephew Fights Exit Order

Aamir Khan met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray at the politician’s Mumbai home on Sunday, as his nephew Imran Khan’s immigration case drew attention. Neither man publicly explained the visit. An MNS official said they are close, meet often, and that Sunday’s meeting had nothing to do with Imran’s legal troubles. The timing, though, linked the meeting to a dispute now involving a court challenge and a new government notice. ^2,6

The dispute began after Imran, a US citizen with Overseas Citizen of India status, was detained at an October 10 protest in Mumbai. The protest called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office later ordered him to leave India by October 28. Imran filed a petition in the Bombay High Court on October 17, arguing that officials gave no specific reason or chance to respond before issuing the order. On Sunday, the FRRO also gave him 15 days to explain why his OCI status should not be cancelled. ^1,4

The 15-day notice raises a separate question from whether Imran must leave: whether he should lose the residency rights linked to his OCI registration. OCI status is not Indian citizenship, but it lets eligible people of Indian origin live and work in India. The FRRO notice refers to the protest and a case against demonstrators over unlawful assembly. It also says that an FIR or taking part in a protest alone does not automatically justify cancelling OCI status. Imran says he had no link to protest organisers and was near the site out of curiosity. ^3,14

That difference is now before two decision-makers. The Bombay High Court is expected to consider Imran’s challenge to the order to leave. The FRRO must review his response to the notice before deciding whether to cancel his status. Aamir and Raj have made no public statement about what they discussed, and the MNS official has denied a link to the case. Imran’s deadline to leave remains October 28. ^2,4