THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE RAJA ELANGO CRIMINAL PETITION No.829 of 2011 ORDER: This criminal petition is filed by the petitioners-A1 and A2 seeking to quash the proceedings against them in Crime No.5 of 2011 of Munagala Police Station, Nalgonda District, registered for the offence punishable under Sections 324 read with 34 IPC and 3(1)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989(for short SC, ST Act). 2. Heard both sides. 3. The de facto complainant lodged the complaint in Cr.No.5 of 2011 against the petitioners complaining that they abused him in the name of his caste, hence they are liable to be prosecuted for the offence under the provisions of the SC, ST Act. Learned counsel for the petitioners submitted the following facts for consideration: i. There is a delay of one day in lodging the complaint; ii. Civil disputes are pending between the petitioners and the complainant; iii. The complainant is not an educated person, he does not know how to read and write. Whereas, it is stated that the complainant lodged the present complaint. 4. This Court is the view that the said contentions have to be investigated by the investigating officer during the course of investigation. Hence, the investigating officer is hereby directed to strictly follow the amended provisions of Section 41 of Cr.P.C. 5. With the above observation, the Criminal Petition is disposed of. Miscellaneous petitions filed along with the criminal petition, if any, shall stand closed. _______________ RAJA ELANGO, J. 31st January 2011, Rns.