MUMBAI, India — Police said Thursday they would not charge the father of a child star in the movie “Slumdog Millionaire,” ending their investigation into claims that he tried to sell his 9-year-old daughter to a reporter posing as a wealthy sheik.
Rubina Ali’s estranged mother, Khurshid Monish Dewade, filed a complaint against the girl’s father Sunday after the British tabloid News of the World reported that he offered to give Ali up for adoption for $400,000. The paper said the deal was offered to one of its reporters. The father, Rafiq Qureshi, has denied any wrongdoing.
“There is not any crime. The matter is closed,” said Mumbai senior police inspector Rahim Shaikh.
On Thursday, the newspaper issued a statement saying it stands by its story.
Police questioned Qureshi but were unable to track down the three journalists who carried out the alleged sting.
