'Slumdog' dad cleared in sale probe

Rafiq Qureshi has been cleared of charges that he tried to sell his daughter, nine-year-old Slumdog Millionaire actress Rubina Ali, Indian officials have announced.

Qureshi was accused by the the News Of The World of trying to sell Ali for roughly $207,280 in a sting operation mounted by the paper which saw a reporter pose as a representative for an Arab family, E! reports.

Following the accusations, Ali's mother requested that Indian officials investigate the claims. However, police questioned Qureshi and found no evidence of criminal behaviour.

"So far there is no evidence of any offence, hence there is no registration of complaint and no arrest," Mumbai police officer Nisar Tamboli said.

Qureshi has claimed that the tabloid "tried to frame" him and "played dirty".