On 1 September 2023, Scam 2003 – The Telgi Story was released. The series is based on one of the most infamous counterfeiting scandals in the country. It is the biography of Abdul Karim Telgi. Hansal Mehta, the creator of the blockbuster web series Scam 1992, is the creative director of the second installment of the scam franchise. Continue reading to know more about the scam and the series.
Who Was Abdul Karim Telgi?
Born in 1961, Telgi’s life was a blend of ambition, ingenuity, and criminality, culminating in a counterfeit empire. He was a mastermind behind the country’s most infamous scandals. This shook the nation’s financial institutions.
Karim was born to an Indian railway employee. However, his father passed away when Abdul Karim Telgi was young. To fund his education, Abdul started selling fruits and vegetables on trains. Further, he shifted to Saudi Arabia only to return after seven years and with a new career path. Telgi chose counterfeiting as his career. Initially, he focused on forging passports and even started Arabian Metro Travels.
His company produced fake documents that allowed laborers to bypass immigration checks. Later, he shifted to counterfeiting stamp papers. He recruited many agents to sell the fakes to bulk purchasers. The scale of the operation was estimated to be Rs 30,000 crores. It is also said that Karim lived a lavish life and often visited dance bars. Allegedly, he even fell in love with a bar dancer.
The Law Catches Up
The scandal was extensive. It implicated several police officers and government employees. Later, Telgi was eventually arrested. Furthermore, he was sentenced to thirty years of rigorous imprisonment in 2006. Later, in 2007, he received an additional sentence of thirteen years. Moreover, he was asked to pay a fine of Rs 202 crores.
Telgi was no alien to death. His life came to an abrupt end in 2017. He passed away due to meningitis compounded by long-standing health issues like diabetes and hypertension.
Abdul Karim Telgi was a complex figure. He was a man of humble beginnings who rose to build his empire. He was an intelligent man who paved his way to a successful and lavish life. The audience is enjoying his biography. Have you seen the series yet? Are you looking forward to watching the series? Do let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We’re eagerly waiting for your reviews. Stay tuned for further updates.
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