Kirit Somaiya alleges actor Imran Khan holds US passport, files police complaint
Synopsis
Veteran politician Kirit Somaiya has alleged that Bollywood actor Imran Khan is a US citizen holding an OCI card and filed a police complaint in Mumbai, arguing the actor had no legal right to join a public agitation. The complaint adds a celebrity flashpoint to an already-volatile nationwide protest demanding the Election Commission chief's resignation — protests that have already drawn Supreme Court intervention.
Key Takeaways
Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint at Gamdevi Police Station, Mumbai , alleging Bollywood actor Imran Khan is an American citizen holding an OCI card .
Somaiya cited Section 23(a) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025 , under which a foreigner violating visa conditions faces up to 3 years imprisonment or a fine of up to ₹3 lakh .
The complaint relates to a protest held on 10 October 2026 at August Kranti Maidan, Mumbai , organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) .
Protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Supreme Court on Sunday ordered an end to protester detentions and directed normalisation of public transport.
Somaiya stated he has not yet received a copy of the FIR or the sections invoked against him.
Former Lok Sabha member Kirit Somaiya has alleged that Bollywood actor Imran Khan is an American citizen holding an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, and on that basis filed a formal complaint with the Gamdevi Police Station in Mumbai on Monday, 13 October 2026. Somaiya alleged that Khan, reportedly born on American soil, participated in a public agitation — an act he claims a foreigner on OCI status cannot legally undertake.
The Legal Argument
In his complaint, Somaiya cited Section 23(a) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which stipulates that a foreigner who 'does any act in violation of the conditions of the valid visa issued to him for his entry and stay in India' is punishable with imprisonment extending up to three years, or a fine up to ₹3 lakh, or both. He further invoked Sections 7 and 29 of the same Act, under which the Central Government may direct a foreigner's removal from Indian territory.
Somaiya described Khan as 'a foreign national' participating in what he characterised as an agitation directed against a constitutional authority of India. Notably, Somaiya also stated that he has not yet received a copy of the FIR and remains unaware of the specific sections invoked or the contents of the filing.
The Protest That Triggered the Complaint
The complaint is linked to a political agitation held on 10 October 2026 at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai, organised by the online political outfit Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest was part of a nationwide movement demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with demonstrators alleging that the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has disenfranchised millions of voters across India.
By 12 October 2026, protests in Delhi had entered their third consecutive day, with the youth-led movement maintaining sustained pressure on the Election Commission. The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have denied all allegations of manipulation.
Detentions and Supreme Court Intervention
On 10 October 2026, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and fellow leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained after arriving in Delhi ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Several other protesters were also detained as authorities imposed sweeping security restrictions in and around the venue.
The matter reached the Supreme Court, which during a special hearing on Sunday directed that there would be no further detention of protesters, and that public transport services would return to normalcy. The court's intervention marked a significant development in the broader legal landscape surrounding the agitation.
Context and What Comes Next
Somaiya, a veteran politician known partly for his catchphrase 'Maine apko jawab de diya hai' which gained widespread online traction, has a history of filing complaints on issues of public interest. His latest move injects a celebrity angle into an already politically charged protest movement. Whether the Gamdevi Police Station registers a formal FIR against the actor, or whether the complaint is taken further, will determine whether Somaiya's allegations enter the legal domain. The wider protest over electoral roll revision, meanwhile, shows no signs of abating.
Point of View
2025 is far from settled, and the complaint could struggle at the threshold stage itself. More broadly, the episode illustrates how identity-based legal challenges are increasingly being deployed to fracture opposition coalitions. The Supreme Court's pre-emptive order against detentions suggests the judiciary is already alive to the risk of disproportionate executive response — a signal that purely procedural countermeasures face headwinds.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has Kirit Somaiya alleged against actor Imran Khan?
Somaiya has alleged that Bollywood actor Imran Khan is an American citizen who holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, and therefore had no legal right to participate in the public agitation held at August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on 10 October 2026. He filed a formal complaint with the Gamdevi Police Station citing the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
What law did Kirit Somaiya invoke in his complaint?
Somaiya cited Section 23(a) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which makes it punishable for a foreigner to violate visa conditions, with penalties up to three years in prison or a fine of up to ₹3 lakh. He also referenced Sections 7 and 29 of the same Act, which allow the Central Government to direct a foreigner's removal from India.
What is the Cockroach Janta Party protest about?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Demonstrators allege that the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has disenfranchised millions of voters. Protests began in Mumbai and have spread to Delhi, where they entered their third day on 12 October 2026.
What did the Supreme Court say about the protests?
The Supreme Court, during a special hearing on Sunday, directed that protesters would not be detained and that public transport should return to normalcy. The court's intervention came after CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das, and Ashutosh Ranka were detained in Delhi ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar on 10 October 2026.
Has Imran Khan responded to Somaiya's allegations?
No response from actor Imran Khan to Somaiya's allegations is reported. Somaiya himself has stated that he has not yet received a copy of the FIR or information on which sections have been invoked.
