Following the massive success of Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story , Applause Entertainment returned with another gripping tale of financial deception: . Released in September 2023 on Sony LIV, this series immediately grabbed the top spot on many viewers' watchlists. Directed by Hansal Mehta and Tushar Hiranandani, the series chronicles one of India’s most audacious financial frauds—the ₹30,000 crore stamp paper scam orchestrated by Abdul Karim Telgi.
At its core, Scam 2003 is a cynical exploration of institutional decay. It highlights a dark reality where every man has a price, from low-ranking transit clerks to high-ranking politicians. Telgi’s character acts as a mirror to society, proving that his criminal empire could only exist because the legitimate systems surrounding him were thoroughly hollowed out by greed. scam 2003 the telgi story 2023 web series top
So, what sets Scam 2003: The Telgi Story apart from other web series in the same genre? Here are a few factors that contribute to its success: Following the massive success of Scam 1992: The
The series chronicles the dramatic rise and eventual downfall of Abdul Karim Telgi At its core, Scam 2003 is a cynical
Abdul Karim Telgi, born in 1961 in Khanapur, Karnataka, began his career selling fruits on trains. After relocating to Mumbai and spending time in Saudi Arabia, he returned to India and was first arrested for forging passports. It was during a stint in jail that Telgi realized the immense potential of manufacturing counterfeit stamp papers. By bribing officials at the Indian Security Press in Nashik, he created an artificial shortage of genuine stamp papers to fuel demand for his fakes. His network eventually spanned 16 states, and he laundered his profits through more than 100 bank accounts. Telgi was convicted in 2006, sentenced to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment, and fined ₹202 crore. He died in 2017 while still serving his sentence.
Following the massive, globe-trotting success of Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story , SonyLIV and Applause Entertainment returned to the well of white-collar crime with Scam 2003: The Telgi Story . While the bar was set astronomically high by its predecessor, the 2023 installment manages to stand tall as one of the top web series of the year, trading stock market adrenaline for the gritty, ink-stained underworld of counterfeit stamp paper.
If Scam 1992 was the Pratik Gandhi show, Scam 2003 belongs entirely to . Taking on the role of Abdul Karim Telgi, Riar delivers a performance that is starkly different from the flamboyant Harshad Mehta.