India, Nov. 8 -- I have to admit my sympathies are entirely with the young actor Imran Khan. He was issued a Leave India Notice by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, ordering him to leave the country for joining a protest against the chief election commissioner (CEC), Gyanesh Kumar, in Mumbai on October 10. The notice was issued on October 14 for alleged violation of the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025. He was also threatened with cancellation of his overseas citizenship card under the Citizenship Act 1955. After he unconditionally apologised, the Mumbai High Court permitted him to continue to stay in India. But today, I want to examine the case that was brought against him.

As far as I can tell, the Immigration and Foreign...