The notice is returnable by August 10. A division bench comprising Justices Devinder Gupta and NG Nandi have also issued notices to the SHO of the Maurice Nagar police station, Assistant Sub-inspector Mange Ram, main accused Wahid and his alleged accomplice Mary.

According to the petitioners -- the girl's parents Usha Rani and Ajit Singh -- around 8 p.m. on July three, 14-yr-old Seema, (name changed to protect identity) was enticed by a neighbour, Mary, to go to a nearby chowk and was then handed over to Wahid.

The incident took place at Christian Colony, Delhi University Campus. The parents reported the matter to the police around 8.15 p.m. They claim that ASI Mange Ram refused to lodge a complaint and asked the couple to searchfor their daughter on their own.

Even after they complained to the SHO the next day, no report was lodged. While the police did question Wahid's brother and Mary, they were apparently let off after they assured the police that the girl would be brought to the police station the next day.

According to the petition, about 9 p.m. on July five two constables of the Maurice Nagar police station went to Usha Rani's Christian Colony home and said that her daughter had come to the police station. The couple rushed there with other neighbours, but say that they were not allowed to meet Seema.

Seema was allegedly detained in the police station the whole night. It was only at about 5 p.m. the next day that the police registered a case under Section 363 (kidnapping), IPC. And this after Seema told the police that she had been confined in a room at Maurice Nagar for two days and was raped thrice. According to the petition, the police ``deliberately'' did not register a case under Section 376 (rape), IPC.

Seemasaid that after two days she was forced into a Maruti along with four others, and realised from the conversation that she was being taken to Aligarh to be sold to a pimp. Terrified, she said that she wanted to use a bathroom and they stopped the car near the Wazirabad bridge. Seema managed to escape under cover of night and reach the police station.

The girl was finally handed over to her family on July 5, but ASI Mange Ram allegedly warned her mother that the matter should not be further pursued, and threatened to put them behind bars if they did so.

The agony did not end here. On July 15, Mary and another lady Shobha came to Christian Colony with a police constable around 8 p.m. and asked Seema to accompany them to the police station, saying that her parents were also there. Usha Rani and her husband were with their advocate at the time. Her parents now fear that ``with this pretext she has been again kidnapped'' and may be forced into prostitution.

In their petition -- filed through counsel RD Rana-- the parents have pleaded that a writ be issued for the recovery of their daughter, that the police be directed to register a case under Section 376, IPC, and that investigations under Section 363 be transferred to the CBI.