Rafiq Quereshi, the father of 9-year-old Slumdog Millionaire star Rubina Ali (youngest Latika) has attempted to sell his daughter in an illegal adoption deal for close to $300,000, according to shocking new reports.

When an undercover reporter pretended to be interested in “adopting” (aka buying) Ali from Quereshi, the girl’s father gave the reporter his sob story:

“We live in one room, seven of us sleep on the floor. I earn £2 to £3 [$3 to $4] a day. I have to consider what is best for me, my family and for Rubina’s future,” said Quereshi.

What about the fact that Slumdog producers have sent Rubina to a UN school and have set up a trust fund the girl will have access to once she turns 18?

Quereshi has adamantly denied any sort of illegal adoption, but with the father of Rubina being more than vocal with his opinion that his daughter was underpaid for appearing in Slumdog Millionaire and the undercover reporters calling their story “fair, true and accurate,” it’s hard not to believe!

» Update: Quereshi has officially been arrested for allegedly attempting an illegal adoption (aka: selling).