Scam | 2003 The Telgi Story -2023- Web Series
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is a 2023 biographical financial thriller series
: The 10-episode season was released in two parts: Volume 1 (Episodes 1–5): Premiered on September 1, 2023 . Volume 2 (Episodes 6–10): Premiered on November 3, 2023 . Plot Summary
The 2023 web series is a biographical financial thriller that serves as a spiritual successor to the critically acclaimed Scam 1992 . Created by Hansal Mehta and directed by Tushar Hiranandani , the series dramatizes the rise and fall of Abdul Karim Telgi , the mastermind behind one of India’s most expansive and sophisticated counterfeiting operations: the Stamp Paper Scam . Plot and Origins Scam 2003 The Telgi Story -2023- Web Series
The Indian streaming space changed forever in 2020 when director Hansal Mehta delivered Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story . The series set a gold standard for financial thrillers. In 2023, the creative team returned with a spiritual sequel: Scam 2003: The Telgi Story .
While the first installment of the franchise delved into the volatile world of the stock market, Scam 2003 shifts its focus to a completely different kind of financial fraud: the systematic counterfeiting of stamp papers. Spanning multiple decades and involving a labyrinth of corrupt politicians, police officers, and bureaucrats, the series chronicles the rise and spectacular fall of Abdul Karim Telgi, the mastermind behind a massive ₹30,000 crore scam. The Premise and Real-Life Inspiration Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is a 2023
The soul of Scam 2003 lies in the breakout performance of theater veteran Gagan Dev Riar as Abdul Karim Telgi. Matching the high benchmark set by Pratik Gandhi in Scam 1992 , Riar brings a nuanced complexity to Telgi. He does not play Telgi as a cartoonish villain; instead, he portrays him as a deeply family-oriented man, a smooth-talking negotiator, and a mathematical genius who treats corruption as a standard business expense. Riar’s physical transformation and local dialect add profound authenticity to the role.
Recognized for his enterprising nature, Telgi moves to Mumbai, works in a guest house, marries the owner's daughter, and briefly works in Saudi Arabia. Upon returning to India, he starts by forging passports before discovering his true calling: counterfeit stamp papers. The series details how, after a stint in prison, he connects with accomplices who introduce him to the business of forging revenue stamps. Created by Hansal Mehta and directed by Tushar
Following the massive success of Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story , Applause Entertainment and SonyLIV returned with a spiritual sequel.
Tushar Hiranandani’s direction keeps the multi-city narrative focused.
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is the second installment in SonyLIV’s popular Scam franchise, following the critically acclaimed Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story . While the first season focused on the stock market, the second season shifts focus to the murky world of bureaucracy and the printing press.