ORDER

The petitioners herein seek pre-arrest bail under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on the apprehension of arrest in connection with Crime No. 207 of 2016 of the Nilambur Police Station, registered under Sections 143 , 147, 188 and 353 read with Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code .

2. The defacto complainant in this case is the Revenue Tahsildar of the Nilambur Taluk. The incident alleged in this case happened when a team of revenue officials led by the Tahsildar reached at the place of incident for the purpose of survey as directed by this Court in a then pending proceedings.

3. This application for pre-arrest bail is opposed by the learned Public Prosecutor on the ground that custodial interrogation of the petitioners is absolutely necessary as part of investigation, and that if the accused are now released, they will definitely obstruct the proper and effective investigation.

4. It is alleged that a gang of persons led by these four petitioners caused obstruction to discharge of duty by the revenue officials, defying the authority of this Court. The learned counsel submitted that the complaint does not make out the elements of the offence alleged under Sectio