Rubina's father not guilty, says Mumbai Police

Rafique Qureshi, father of Slumdog Millionaire child star Rubina Ali, is not guilty of trying to sell his daughter as the inquiry found him innocent, police said on Sunday.

"The inquiry has concluded and he is found not guilty as there is no exchange of money in it," Senior police inspector Rahim Shaikh said in Mumbai.

"He did not try to sell his daughter. It was true that he had gone to meet some people in a hotel in suburban Andheri where they told Qureshi that they want to adopt Rubina. But Qureshi told them that he can take care of his daughter," he said.

Qureshi was accused of allegedly trying to sell Rubina to a Saudi Sheikh for Rs 1.8 crore as it was revealed in a sting operation carried out by a British tabloid last week.

The reporters of the tabloid had posed as members of the wealthy Sheikh's family from Saudi Arabia and had offered to adopt the girl when Qureshi allegedly demanded the princely sum.

Police had launched an inquiry after the media reports.