IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE OF ANDHRA PRADESH:: HYDERABAD THURSDAY, THE TWENTIETH DAY OF OCTOBER TWO THOUSAND AND ELEVEN PRESENT:: HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE G.V.SEETHAPATHY CRL.P.No.5689 OF 2010 Between: Singireddy Srinivasa Rao …Petitioners A n d The State of A.P., Rep. by its Public Prosecutor, High Court of A.P., Hyderabad and another ..Respondents HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE G.V.SEETHAPATHY CRL.P.No.5689 OF 2010 ORDER: This petition is filed under Section 482 Cr.P.C., seeking to quash further proceedings against the petitioner/accused in Cr.No.63 of 2010 of Addateegala Police Station, East Godavari District. 2. Heard both sides. Perused the record. 3. On a complaint given by the 2nd respondent, police registered the above case against the petitioner for the offence under Section 3(i)(x) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. According to the complainant, on 08.06.2010, there was a dance programme in the village in connection with Gangalamma festival and that the petitioner, who was a reporter of Sakshi newspaper, gave adverse publicity to the said programme by way of a news item in the above newspaper and aggrieved by the same, the complainant and others questioned the petitioner on 10.06.2010, whereupon the petitioner abused them in the name of their caste and threatened that he can write whatever he chooses to in the newspaper. It is further alleged that notwithstanding the fact that the complainant and others are ladies, the petitioner behaved in a highhanded manner against them. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioner/accused would submit that, in fact, the complainant and others physically assaulted the petitioner causing injuries and on a complaint given by him on the same day, the police registered F.I.R in Cr.No.62 of 2010 at 12 noon and as a counter blast, the present complaint was registered at 12.15 pm. The learned counsel for the respondent/complainant would submit that in the said case in Cr.No.62 of 2010, investigation has been completed and charge sheet was also filed against the complainant herein and others. 5. In the circumstances, having regard to the nature of the offence alleged and the fact that the other counter case has already been investigated, it is considered that the inherent powers of this Court under Section 482 Cr.P.C cannot be invoked to quash further proceedings in Cr.No.63 of 2010 and the truth or otherwise of the said allegation contained therein can come out only after due investigation. However, the petitioner/accused may not be arrested till completion of investigation. It is open to the petitioner/accused to question the charge sheet as and when the same is filed. 6. Subject to the above, the criminal petition is dismissed. ____________________ G.V.SEETHAPATHY, J 20th October, 2011 Lrkm