The court affirmed that prima facie evidence suffices to proceed with charges under established statutes regarding atrocities against scheduled caste members.

ORDER

Dated this the 25^th day of February, 2026 The accused Nos. 1 to 3 in Crime No. 829 of 2020 of Thrikkunnappuzha police station has filed this Crl.M.C. under Section 482 of the Cr.P.C., praying for quashing all further proceedings against them. The offences alleged against the petitioners are under Sections 341 , 506 r/w 34 of the IPC and Sections 3 (1)(r), 3(1)(s) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act .

2. The prosecution case as revealed from the FIR is that the accused persons, who are not members of the scheduled caste or scheduled tribe community, with the intention to insult the defacto complainant, who is a member of schedule caste community, called her by her caste name on 07.10.2020 at about 9.00 a.m., wrongfully restrained her while she was bringing quarry waste in a lorry, abused her in filthy words, intimidated to do away with her and thereby they are alleged to have committed the aforesaid offences.

3. When this matter came up for arguments, there was no representation for the petitioner. The petition was opposed by the learned Public Prosecutor.

4. On a perusal of the FI statement, it can be seen that there are specific allegations against the petitioner to the effect that he wrongfully restrained the defacto complainant, abused her in filthy words by calling the name of her caste and intimidated her. Thus prima facie, the offences alleged by the prosecution are made out. Therefore, the prayer for quashing the proceedings against the petitioner is liable to be rejected.

In the result, this Crl.M.C. is dismissed.

Sd/-