Thaindian News

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) “Slumdog Millionaire” child star Rubina Ali’s mother Khushi is aghast by reports that her ex-husband was prepared to sell their daughter for 200,000 pounds (over Rs.14 million), but said her elder daughter had informed her about the matter two weeks ago.
“Though my elder daughter Sanaa informed me of the matter almost two weeks ago, I did not believe he (Rafiq Qureshi) would actually agree to do this,” a shocked Khushi told IANS here Sunday.

Khushi said that Qureshi and his second wife Meena were always “crazy for money”.

“Now that my daughter has achieved international fame, they want to capitalise on it at any cost,” she said.

British news website News of the World had reported that Qureshi wanted to get rid of poverty and become a millionaire by selling his nine-year-old daughter after it conducted a sting operation.

Qureshi demanded 200,000 pounds from the News of the World’s undercover reporters who posed as a wealthy family from Dubai. He told the fake sheikh this week: “I have to consider what’s best for me, my family and Rubina’s future.”

While Qureshi’s phone was constantly switched off, his neighbour and friend Yakub Abdul Sheikh confirmed that the incident had occurred a few days ago, but nobody really took it seriously as Rubina’s father said he had been “misunderstood” by the foreigners.

“Qureshi later told me that since the foreigners were speaking in Arabic, he misunderstood what the interpreter was saying,” Sheikh said.

Sheikh claimed that Qureshi had told him he had no intentions of giving away his daughter in adoption for 200,000 pounds to an Arab family as reported by the British media.

“Qureshi feels that the issue was blown out of proportion because of the miscommunication with the foreigners,” Sheikh said.

Rubina’s mother also said that Qureshi should be made to account for the money the nine-year-old had earned from the multiple Oscar-winning film and added that the money be spent to admit the girl to a good hostel.

“That money should be put aside in a separate deposit in Rubina’s name and she should be admitted to a good hostel. She can be taken care of and can also pursue her studies and acting career simultaneously,” Khushi said.