NEW DELHI - Eight men accused of raping and murdering an 8-year-old girl pleaded not guilty on Monday to the horrific crime that has sparked revulsion and brought thousands to India's streets in protest.

Four police and a Hindu temple custodian are among those accused of gang raping and killing the Muslim girl from a poor tribe.

The accused men appeared in court on Monday for the first time since being arrested in February for the girl's murder.

Ankur Sharma, a lawyer for the accused, said the men had pleaded not guilty and were willing to take a lie-detector test. The court adjourned the case for procedural reasons, he added.