(1888PressRelease)
April 25, 2009 - The older sister of Rubina Ali, the child star from Slumdog Millionaire, says, “My father said I was unwanted and Rubina more precious.” Her father has driven her away from the family home. “The Oscar has destroyed my family,” says Sana.
The police interviewed Rafiq Quereshi, father of the girls, for allegedly offering his nine year-old daughter, Rubina, for sale for $400,000, in an illegal adoption deal. The father denied the allegations and it does not seem he has been arrested. Had the sale gone through, Quereshi would have become a millionaire, in Indian rupees.
The British tabloid ‘News of the World’, set up a sting where reporters posed as a wealthy family from Dubai. They told Rubina’s father, in his new city-provided housing, they wanted to adopt Rubina. The father said he was framed.
“I have to consider what’s best for me, my family and Rubina’s future,” Rafiq declared in a later statement. He said Hollywood bosses were the reason he was forced to put his daughter up for sale. Mohiuddin, Rafiq’s equally demanding brother insisted: “The child is special now. This is NOT an ordinary child. This is an Oscar child!”
The director of the Jai Ho charitable trust established by the film makers, Boyle and producer Christian Colson, to support the children, says "The Trust will support Rubina, her parents and responsible authorities to ensure the rights and best interests of Rubina are protected". The Trust is in regular contact with Rubina and her family and has employed a social worker to help look after the children. According to the trust, both families of the child stars receives a monthly stipend for living costs, as well as educational scholarships and will receive a lump sum payment once the stars have turned eighteen.
"I like being with my father," Rubina Ali told reporters.
In an odd twist, footage has surfaced of what appears to be Rubina's mother and stepmother fighting in the streets of Mumbai. Rubina's mother Khurshid, is very upset that her ex-husband was trying to sell her daughter.
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