अनुसूचित जाती आणि अनुसूचित जमाती (अत्याचार प्रतिबंध) अधिनियमाअंतर्गत घडलेल्या गुन्ह्याचा तपास _____ यापेक्षा कमी दर्जाचे पोलीस अधिकारी करू शकत नाही.

The correct answer is Option C (Deputy Superintendent of Police).

Key Points:
• Investigation Rank under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995:
• Rule 7(1) Mandate: Under Rule 7(1) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, an offence committed under the Act shall be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP / ACP).
• Investigative Competence: The officer is specifically appointed by the State Government or Director General of Police based on their competence, integrity, and experience to avoid local bias and ensure impartial investigations.
• ⏳ Timeframe: Rule 7(2) requires the investigating officer to complete the investigation and submit the report to the Superintendent of Police within sixty days.
• Therefore, Option (3) [Deputy Superintendent of Police] is the correct answer.
• Key Takeaway: Under Rule 7 of the SC/ST Atrocities Rules, an offence must be investigated by an officer not below the rank of DySP.