Actor Imran Khan has spoken about his reported detention during a protest in Mumbai, claiming that police personnel drove him and others around in a van for nearly two hours before releasing them. The actor also drew attention online after a video showed him shouting “Jai Hind” during an exchange with police officers.
The incident reportedly took place on Saturday, October 10, when Mumbai Police detained hundreds of people near August Kranti Maidan and Nana Chowk amid a demonstration linked to the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
Videos circulating on social media show Imran interacting with police personnel as officers surround him in a dimly lit lane. His girlfriend, Lekha Washington, and cousin, Zayn Marie Khan, were also seen recording the incident and asking officers to provide a warrant or relevant documentation.
In a separate clip, Imran can be seen waving towards police personnel and shouting, “Jai Hind!” The actor later spoke about the experience, questioning why he and others had been taken away from the gathering.
Imran Khan claims police drove him around for nearly two hours
In a video shared on social media, Imran described his experience following the police action during the protest.
“I honestly don’t know why I have been brought here. They picked all of us from the streets and asked us to sit in the vans,” he said.
The actor claimed that he and his companions were driven around in a police van for approximately two hours before being released.
The circulating videos also show Lekha Washington and Zayn Marie Khan documenting the interaction with officers. They questioned the police personnel about the legal basis for taking the group away and asked to see the relevant documents.
Imran’s account has brought attention to the circumstances surrounding the detentions. However, his claim about the duration of the journey and the reasons for the police action should be distinguished from any official explanation of the incident.
‘Jai Hind’: Actor’s exchange with police goes viral
One of the widely circulated moments from the incident shows Imran waving towards police personnel and exclaiming, “Jai Hind!”
The clip has drawn attention alongside footage of his interaction with officers. In another moment, police personnel appear to form a human chain as the actor moves near them.
Imran had also shared a selfie from inside a police vehicle, captioning it, “Apparently I’m going for a drive.”
The post offered a glimpse of his experience during the police action, while his subsequent remarks questioned why he and other people at the gathering had been taken into vehicles.
The videos provide a record of some moments during the incident, but they do not, on their own, establish the complete circumstances of the detentions or the legal grounds cited by the police.
Imran Khan says he attended the gathering in his individual capacity
The actor also clarified that he was not affiliated with any organisation and had attended the gathering in his personal capacity.
“I don’t have any right to demand anything from people. I am not a part of any organisation. I will stand as a representative,” he said.
His comments came amid a demonstration held in solidarity with the Cockroach Janata Party. According to the supplied account, the gathering focused on demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities associated with electoral-roll revisions.
The protest was connected to concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which has been a subject of political debate.
Imran’s clarification about his participation is significant to his account of the incident: he said he was present as an individual rather than as a representative of a political organisation.
More than 400 people reportedly detained in Mumbai
Mumbai Police reportedly detained more than 400 people near August Kranti Maidan and Nana Chowk on Saturday, October 10. Those named in reports about the incident included Imran, Lekha Washington and Zayn Marie Khan.
The action took place during the gathering linked to the CJP protest. The demonstration’s reported demands centred on the role of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and concerns over electoral-roll revisions.
According to ANI, a first information report (FIR) was registered under Sections 223, 126(2), 189(2), 189(3) and 189(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The provisions cited in the report concern matters including disobedience of an order issued by a public servant, wrongful restraint and offences relating to unlawful assembly. The exact allegations and their application to individual participants should be assessed against the FIR itself and any official police statement.
The registration of an FIR does not, by itself, establish that every person detained committed an offence.
Questions remain over the circumstances of the detentions
Imran Khan’s account has focused attention on how protesters were taken away, the length of time he says he spent in a police van and the reasons given for the action.
The circulating videos document parts of his interaction with police personnel, while his own statements provide his account of what happened. Further clarification from Mumbai Police would help establish the official grounds for the detentions and the circumstances surrounding the group’s release.
