Mumbai, 19 Oct (HS): The Bombay High Court will hear

a petition filed by Imran Khan against the police and the state government over

the Quit India notice issued to film actor by the Mumbai Police.

Imran Khan's lawyer Venkatesh Dhond told reporters

on Monday that the petition filed by actor Imran Khan against the police notice

was being heard today (Monday) before a bench of Chief Justice Mahesh Chandra

Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna. In this petition, Khan has challenged the

notice issued by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to leave

India by October 28. In his plea, the actor has sought quashing of the notice

terming it as arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional.

Adv Dhond said that no criminal case is registered

or pending against the actor. According to him, Khan has lived in India since

he was two years old and did not even attend the demonstration staged by CJP

supporters. He was on his way to the spot when he was detained by the police

and later let off. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the

central government, sought time to file a reply. He said the copy of the

petition was received by him only on Monday morning. Following this, the court

has fixed the hearing on October 26.

Imran Khan had gone to the August Kranti Maidan in

Mumbai to join the protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party against

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on 10 October. He was arrested from

the venue. Following this, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya filed a complaint against

Imran Khan at a Mumbai police station. Somaiya in his complaint had said that

Imran Khan is a foreign national and he cannot join any protest in this

country. He demanded that the police immediately expel Imran Khan from the

country. For this reason, a notice was issued by the Mumbai Police against

Imran Khan, directing him to leave India before 28 October. Challenging the same

notice, Imran Khan had moved the high court on October 17.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar