KOCHI: The family of the scooterist killed in a Mercedes-Benz crash in Cheranalloor expressed disappointment on Thursday after the Kerala high court directed police not to arrest the additional district and sessions judge in connection with the case involving his 17-year-old son, while respecting the court’s decision.Justice Kauser Edappagath passed the order after hearing the state and the counsel for the judge on his anticipatory bail petition. The court also directed the judge to cooperate with the investigation.Jayabalakrishnan’s daughter, Bhadrakeerthi, told reporters that the family was disappointed with the order but respected it.“We are definitely disappointed, but we respect the high court’s decision. We will discuss with our lawyer and decide on the next course of action. We intend to pursue the matter legally and will not take even a single step backwards. We will continue to fight,” she said.Referring to the fact that a judge was on the opposite side in the case, she said the family would consult its lawyer on how to proceed further.The deceased’s family has filed an impleading petition, which the court will consider later.The judge approached the high court seeking anticipatory bail after police named him as an accused in the case.The case relates to an accident in the early hours of Sunday when a speeding Mercedes-Benz hit Jayabalakrishnan (55), a resident of South Chittoor in Cheranalloor, on Container Road at Marapparambu. The car was registered in the judge’s name.According to police, Jayabalakrishnan, who ran a roadside eatery, was returning home on his scooter when the accident occurred.Police initially registered a case under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (causing death by negligence) and released the minor on bail from the police station on Sunday evening.The move triggered protests outside the Cheranalloor police station, where the deceased’s son and daughter, accompanied by activists, demanded the accused’s arrest and his production before the Juvenile Justice Board.Senior police officers subsequently intervened. Following a preliminary investigation, police invoked Section 105 of the BNS, which deals with culpable homicide not amounting to murder.Although the Juvenile Justice Board subsequently granted bail to the minor, police named his father as an accused in the case.Police said the judge was questioned on Wednesday, with further questioning scheduled for Thursday afternoon.(With inputs from PTI)