A 15-year-old girl who has alleged that two men had raped her last year, approached the police in Delhi’s Aman Vihar area with Rs 5 lakh last week, claiming it was the money that her parents had taken from the accused to withdraw the case. She told the police that her parents were now putting pressure on her to change her statement in court.

“The girl came with a wad of notes and said it was Rs 3 lakh. But when we counted, it was Rs 4.96 lakh,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) MN Tiwari told the Hindustan Times on Monday. He said the police booked the girl’s parents under the Juvenile Justice Act and for criminal intimidation, threatening someone to give false evidence and criminal conspiracy.

“We arrested the girl’s mother. Her father is on the run,” Tiwari said. “We are also looking for the people who were facilitating this crime.”

The complainant has been sent to an observation home, The Indian Express quoted Tiwari as saying. The rape accused were arrested last year and sent to judicial custody.

“On April 10, her parents were in court when the girl decided to report the matter to the police,” an official said. “She knew that the money was hidden under the bed. She picked up the cash and without counting it, reached the police station.”