Imran Khan — an actor holding both American citizenship and Overseas Citizen of India status — received a departure notice from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office requiring him to exit the country by 28 October. The directive followed his detention after he took part in a Citizens for Justice and Peace rally held in Mumbai on 10 October, at which demonstrators called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to step down.

Zayn Marie Khan and Lekha Washington — Imran's cousin and partner, respectively — joined him at the 10 October demonstration, after which all three were taken into custody before being released later that Saturday evening.

Following the order for Imran Khan to leave India, Lekha Washington responded publicly by posting a photograph of the two of them taken inside a prison van during their detention over the previous weekend.

Two days before that post, Washington described on social media what had taken place the previous Saturday, writing that around 5 pm she, Zayn Marie, Nuzhat — identified as Imran's mother — her partner Imran, and several others had made their way toward August Kranti Maidan to inquire about acquaintances who had been taken into custody, and that no gathering was underway at the time.

Washington recalled that barricades had been set up on all sides of the area, with reporters gathering in numbers and pressing in around Imran. Imran briefly addressed reporters before the scene grew disorderly, according to Washington, who noted in her account that he told the assembled media the group had no demands, was not affiliated with any organisation, and that those present were acting as private individuals.

In her account, the exchange was brought to an abrupt end when a prolonged burst of whistle-blowing rang out — with media personnel nearby — after which uniformed individuals took hold of both her and Zayn, leaving visible marks on each of them, before loading the group into a vehicle that travelled for several hours. Washington added that public transport was not made available to them after that point, and that a notable portion of the journey was spent at a standstill in traffic.

Washington noted in writing that a thorough record of the night's events had been kept. She also wrote that the Mumbai Police handled the situation in an even-handed way throughout her own involvement, and that those in her position held a degree of privilege, while others faced considerably harsher circumstances.

Assessments of how the Mumbai Police handle impartiality in their operations have varied among observers across the city.

Advocate Zulfiqar Memon is set to lodge a petition contesting the departure order at the High Court. The complaint was passed along to the FRRO, whose response took the form of a deportation notice. The argument put forward was that an OCI card holder such as Khan remains barred from taking part in protest activity.

The eviction notice was grounded in Section 7 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, under which authority rests with the Central Government to shape the terms governing how foreign nationals enter, depart, remain within, or move through Indian territory.

Following his release, Imran shared a photograph taken from inside a police vehicle, noting in the caption that he was being taken for a drive and that he had no demands to make. Washington described their presence at the location as rooted in local residency and an ordinary sense of civic belonging.