Scam 2003

The Telgi Scam: Unveiling the Counterfeiting Empire of Abdul Karim Telgi

Scam 2003 - The Telgi Story made its much-anticipated debut on September 1, and the man behind this gripping saga of deceit and duplicity is none other than Hansal Mehta, the creative genius who brought us the blockbuster web series, Scam 1992. As the creative director of this second installment in the Scam franchise, Mehta continues his exploration of India's most notorious financial scandals. Based on Sanjay Singh's book, Telgi Scam: Reporter's ki Diary, this web series promises to be a rollercoaster ride of intrigue and deception, exclusively streaming on SonyLIV.

So, who exactly was Abdul Karim Telgi, the central character of this enthralling narrative? Join us as we delve into the life and times of a man whose name became synonymous with one of the country's most infamous counterfeiting scandals.

Humble Beginnings:

Abdul Karim Telgi's early life was a testament to hardship and perseverance. Born in 1961, Telgi's journey began in adversity, with the untimely demise of his father, an Indian Railways employee, leaving his family in financial turmoil. To fund his education, young Telgi resorted to selling fruits and vegetables on trains, a far cry from the life of opulence and power he would later lead.

The Counterfeit Empire:

Telgi's story takes a dramatic turn when he leaves India for Saudi Arabia, hoping to seek fortune and success. Seven years later, he returns to his homeland with a new ambition—counterfeiting. His criminal genius quickly found expression in the forgery of passports. What's more, he established 'Arabian Metro Travels,' a front for his illegal activities that facilitated the export of laborers to Saudi Arabia. The company produced fake documents that enabled laborers to circumvent immigration checks, a practice notoriously known as "pushing" in the industry.

However, Telgi's insatiable hunger for wealth and power soon led him down an even more lucrative path—counterfeit stamp paper. Building a vast network, he recruited an army of 300 agents who peddled these fake documents to major institutions, including banks, insurance companies, and stock brokerage firms. The scale of his operation was nothing short of staggering, with estimates suggesting that it amounted to a mind-boggling ₹30,000 crore.

The Law Catches Up:

The tentacles of Telgi's scandalous empire reached far and wide, ensnaring several police officers and government officials. Eventually, the long arm of justice caught up with him, leading to his sentencing to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment in 2006. A year later, he received an additional 13-year sentence, along with a monumental fine of ₹202 crore.

Personal Life and Demise:

Telgi was as known for his extravagant lifestyle as he was for his criminal activities. Frequenting dance bars, he was even rumored to be in love with a bar dancer named Tarannumn Khan. Astonishingly, he once showered the dancer with ₹90 lakh in a single evening at the bar, a testament to the extent of his wealth.

Sadly, Telgi's life took a tragic turn in 2017 when he succumbed to meningitis, compounded by long-standing health issues such as diabetes and hypertension.

In the end, Abdul Karim Telgi emerges as a complex figure—a man who rose from humble beginnings to build a colossal empire, albeit one that stood on morally shaky ground. His story continues to serve as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the consequences that can befall those who choose the path of deceit and criminality. As Scam 2003 - The Telgi Story unfolds, viewers will have the opportunity to witness the rise and fall of one of India's most infamous scam artists in all its gritty, real-life glory.