Abdul Karim Telgi's life commenced as a fruit seller at Karnataka's Khanapur station, his birthplace. Author Sanjay Singh's authoritative book, 'Telgi Scam: Reporter's Diary' reveals.
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| Abdul Karim Telgi. Stock Image. |
The year 2023 marked the release of 'Scam 2003 - The Telgi Story', a web series that delves into the life of Abdul Karim Telgi, a name that may not ring a bell for many but holds an astonishing and audacious tale of deception and intrigue. Directed by the acclaimed Hansal Mehta, the creator of the blockbuster "Scam 1992," this second installment in the Scam franchise is based on Sanjay Singh's comprehensive work, "Telgi Scam: Reporter's Diary," and is available for streaming on SonyLIV. Join us as we uncover the extraordinary journey of Abdul Karim Telgi, the man behind one of India's most infamous scams.
Abdul Karim Telgi's life commenced as a fruit seller at Karnataka's Khanapur station, his birthplace. Author Sanjay Singh's authoritative book, "Telgi Scam: Reporter's Diary," reveals that he, alongside his mother and two brothers, earned their livelihood by selling fruits to passengers on trains that made stops at the station. However, none could have predicted the extraordinary turn his life would take.
After a series of nondescript jobs, Telgi embarked on a journey to Saudi Arabia in pursuit of quick riches. Upon his return to Mumbai, he transitioned into the role of a travel agent, specializing in facilitating the employment of workers in the desert kingdom. This business venture, given his proclivities, was far from being a legitimate enterprise. It wasn't long before he became involved in a nefarious racket, producing fake immigration clearance documents for laborers seeking work in Gulf countries. In 1991, the Mumbai Police arrested him, now known as Karim Lala, on charges of forgery and cheating.
During his time behind bars, Telgi forged an alliance that would shape his future. This partnership revolved around a new venture: counterfeit stamp papers. These papers were consistently in short supply throughout the country, creating substantial demand. Upon his release, Telgi obtained a license for this business in 1994 and acquired machinery from the decommissioned Nashik Security press to print these counterfeit stamp papers.
Over the next seven to eight years, Telgi established a sprawling operation to produce counterfeit stamp papers, utilizing machinery acquired from government auctions. These forged stamp papers, along with related items such as judicial court fee stamps, notarial stamps, and share transfer certificates, were then sold to institutional buyers at significant discounts. Surprisingly, Telgi's clientele extended beyond individual consumers to include banks, insurance companies, and brokerage firms.
The success of Telgi's scam was reliant on the complicity of officials in various government departments. He managed to keep them content while accumulating a vast fortune, amassing dozens of properties across the country.
Despite his fraudulent activities, Telgi was known to frequent one of the dance bars in Mumbai's Grant Road area, where rumors circulated that he lavishly spent on a dancer who bore a striking resemblance to a famous Bollywood star. This indulgence would later come back to haunt him when he tested positive for HIV in 2002.
By this time, Telgi's counterfeit operation was unraveling. Investigative agencies had launched probes into his racket, resulting in several cases being filed against him in various states. In 2001, he was arrested in Ajmer, and in 2007, he was sentenced to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment for his involvement in the fake stamp paper scam, estimated to be worth Rs 20,000 crores. He was incarcerated at Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru, and his life ended in October 2017 due to multiorgan failure.
Ironically, a year after his death, the Nashik sessions court acquitted Telgi and six others in the fake stamp paper case due to the absence of "solid evidence" against them.
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