Raza Murad and Gajendra Chauhan Back Imran Khan Exit Notice

Veteran actors Raza Murad and Gajendra Chauhan have backed the police notice asking actor Imran Khan to leave India by October 28, after the American citizen joined a protest in Mumbai. Both told ANI that a foreign national has to follow Indian law and cannot intervene in the country’s internal affairs.

Imran Khan, nephew of Aamir Khan, reportedly holds an American passport. He attended a demonstration at August Kranti Maidan calling for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Mumbai Police then issued the “Leave India” notice.

A question of status, not stardom

For Raza Murad, the issue is straightforward. “Whether it is Imran Khan or any other foreign national, there is no reason to interfere in the internal affairs of our country,” he told ANI. The actor, he added, has become a US national and therefore has no right to step into India’s political matters.

Murad stressed that the police are working “in the framework of the law” and that the notice does not ask Imran to leave immediately. The actor has been given a 15-day window. If he feels the move is unfair, Murad said, he can approach a court. Whatever that court decides should be respected, he added.

Gajendra Chauhan: An OCI card is not citizenship

Gajendra Chauhan took a firmer line, arguing that living in India on an Overseas Citizen of India card carries clear restrictions. According to him, an OCI cardholder:

• cannot vote in elections
• cannot contest elections
• cannot participate in protests

“If he has done it, definitely he should be punished,” Chauhan said. He was also disappointed that someone who earned fame, money and a position in India would join a protest against the very conditions he lives under. He felt authorities could act faster than the 15 days given.

Why this ripple matters

The row has drawn reactions across the film fraternity, turning it into more than a single star’s legal problem. For Hindi film fans, it raises a bigger question: can a beloved actor remain in India while participating in political action as a foreign national? The law’s answer, as these veterans see it, is no.

The deadline remains October 28 unless a court intervenes. For the rest of the industry, especially global stars who work between India and the US, the case is a reminder to separate fandom from legal status.

Source: The Times of India