IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Sushil Machan ....Petitioner V/s State of Punjab ....Respondent Date of decision: 02.12.2025 Date of Uploading: 02.12.2025 CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE SUMEET GOEL Present: Mr. Nikhil Thamman, Advocate and Ms. Sunaina, Advocate for the petitioner.

Mr. Adhiraj Singh Thind, AAG Punjab.

*****

SUMEET GOEL, J. (Oral)

1. Present petition has been filed on behalf of the petitioner seeking grant of anticipatory/pre-arrest bail under Section 482 of BNSS, 2023 in FIR No.270 dated 21.10.2025 registered for offences punishable under Sections 304, 196, 352, 353(1), 3(5) of BNS, 2023 and Section 67 of I.T. Act, 2000 at Police Station Division No.7, District Ludhiana.

2. The gravamen of the FIR pertains to using of abusive words and insulting the Purvanchal community. It was alleged by the complainant Braj Bhushan Singh that he belongs to the Purvanchal community. The petitioner Sushil Machan, is a journalist. According to the complainant, the co-accused Sandeep Singh Attal @ Sandvi and the petitioner Sushil Machan regularly insult the Purvanchal community. He further alleged that petitioner Sushil Machan abuses, threatens, intimidates and blackmails