JUDGMENT :

The petitioners are serving police officers in the Kerala Police. The 1^st petitioner was working as a Circle Inspector of Police at Alappuzha North Police Station; the 2^nd petitioner was working as a Circle Inspector of Police, Pulincunnu, Alappuzha, and the 3^rd petitioner was working as a Civil Police Officer at Alappuzha North Police Station, at the time of the alleged incident. The 1^st respondent is an Advocate by profession. The 3^rd respondent is the husband, and the 4^th respondent is the daughter of the 1^st respondent.

2. On 29/12/2013, the Sub Inspector of Police, Alappuzha South police station registered Ext.P1 FIR against the 3^rd respondent before the Judicial First-Class Magistrate Court, Alappuzha (for short, the trial court) alleging offence punishable under Sections 294(b) of IPC and 117(E) of the Kerala Police Act (for short, the KP Act). The allegations in the FIR were that while the 3^rd petitioner was discharging his official duty in connection with the beach festival, Alappuzha, at the main gate of the venue, the 3^rd respondent came in his car and tried to park it in the VIP parking area causing obstacles to other vehicles. Thereupon, the 3^rd petitioner r