The web series Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 is a Hindi-language biographical financial thriller that premiered on September 1, 2023, on SonyLIV. Series Overview
True Story: The series is based on the real-life 2003 Stamp Paper Counterfeiting scam worth an estimated INR 30,000 crores.
Source Material: It is inspired by the book Telgi Scam: Reporter ki Diary written by journalist Sanjay Singh.
Production: Directed by Tushar Hiranandani with Hansal Mehta (director of Scam 1992) serving as showrunner and co-director.
Lead Performance: Gagan Dev Riar portrays the protagonist, Abdul Karim Telgi, receiving critical acclaim for capturing Telgi’s specific nuances and lingo. Plot Breakdown: Part 1 (Episodes 1-5)
The first volume chronicles Telgi's meteoric rise from a humble fruit seller to a criminal mastermind.
Origins: Born in Khanapur, Karnataka, Telgi begins his journey as a small-time hustler selling fruit on trains before moving to Mumbai.
Initial Crimes: He starts by forging documents and passports for laborers traveling to the Gulf.
The Pivot: After an arrest for forgery, Telgi meets Kaushal Jhaveri in prison and learns about the stamp paper market.
The Scam: He transitions from pilfering official papers to minting high-quality fake government stamps, using a vast network of bribes involving "babus, netas, and crooks". Critical Reception Scam 2003 - The Telgi Story (TV Series 2023) - IMDb
Scam 2003 the telgi story is a biography crime drama series directed by tushar hiranandani. IMDb
Abdul Karim Telgi (Played by Gagan Riar) Character Overview - Facebook
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 Hindi
Overview
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is a popular Indian web series that premiered on Sony Liv in 2023. The show is based on the true story of Abdul Karim Telgi, a notorious con artist who made headlines in the early 2000s for his involvement in a massive stamp paper scam. The series is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story.
Plot
The story revolves around Abdul Karim Telgi, played by Shiv Panditt, who hails from a humble background in Karnataka. Telgi starts his career as a small-time crook, but his ambitions and greed soon lead him to hatch a plan to manipulate the stamp paper market. He forges documents and creates fake stamp papers, which are used for various financial transactions.
As Telgi's empire grows, he becomes a major player in the underworld, rubbing shoulders with powerful politicians, businessmen, and gangsters. His scams go unnoticed for a while, but eventually, the authorities start to close in on him.
Part 1: The Rise of Telgi
The first part of the series, Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 Hindi, sets the tone for the rest of the show. It introduces the protagonist, Abdul Karim Telgi, and showcases his early days as a small-time crook. The episode takes us through his struggles, his ambitions, and his first brush with the law.
As Telgi's character evolves, we see him taking risks and making calculated moves to expand his operation. He builds a network of accomplices and starts to make connections with influential people. Scam 2003 The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 Hindi...
Key Characters
Themes
Trailer and Episode Guide
The trailer for Scam 2003: The Telgi Story has generated significant buzz, with fans eager to see the rise and fall of Abdul Karim Telgi. The series consists of 6 episodes, with Part 1 covering the initial episodes.
Watch Now
You can stream Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 Hindi on Sony Liv. If you don't have a subscription, you can sign up for a free trial or purchase a plan.
Reviews and Ratings
The show has received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike, with an average rating of 8/10 on IMDB.
The web series Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (Part 1) premiered on SonyLIV on September 1, 2023. It is the second installment in the Scam franchise, following the success of Scam 1992. Plot Overview
Based on the book Telgi Scam: Reporter’s Ki Diary by Sanjay Singh, the series follows the rise of Abdul Karim Telgi, a small-town fruit seller from Khanapur, Karnataka, who orchestrated one of India's most ingenious financial frauds.
Part 1 (Episodes 1–5) traces Telgi's journey from selling fruit on trains to moving to Mumbai and eventually discovering his knack for forgery. He evolves from faking passports to pilfering and eventually counterfeiting government stamp papers, building a multi-state criminal empire valued at approximately ₹30,000 crore. Key Cast & Characters Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1 Web Series
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Download Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (Season 1 Part 1) [Hindi]
Note on the Series: Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Scam 1992. It chronicles the life of Abdul Karim Telgi, the mastermind behind the stamp paper scam. Season 1 is officially divided into two parts on SonyLIV.
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is a Hindi-language biographical financial thriller that serves as the second installment in the Scam franchise. Directed by Tushar Hiranandini and executive-produced by Hansal Mehta, the series premiered on Sony LIV on September 1, 2023. Production Overview
Source Material: Adapted from the Hindi book Reporter Ki Diary (also known as Telgi Scam: Reporter’s ki Diary) by journalist Sanjay Singh.
Directorial Team: While Hansal Mehta directed the first installment (Scam 1992), he serves as co-director/showrunner here, with Tushar Hiranandini handling primary direction.
Release Format: Season 1 was split into two volumes; Part 1 (Episodes 1–5) was released in September 2023, and Part 2 (Episodes 6–10) followed in November 2023. Plot & Setting
The series is based on the true events of the 2003 Indian stamp paper counterfeiting scam.
Protagonist: Abdul Karim Telgi, born in Khanapur, Karnataka, begins as a humble fruit seller in Bombay (Mumbai). The web series Scam 2003: The Telgi Story
The Scheme: After a brief stint in prison for forgery, Telgi identifies a flaw in the stamp paper market. He manipulates the supply chain and eventually gains access to original printing machines, dyes, and paper from the Nashik Security Press to mass-produce counterfeit stamps.
Timeline: The story spans several decades, meticulously recreating the Mumbai of the 1990s and early 2000s. Key Cast Gagan Dev Riar Abdul Karim Telgi (Lead) Hemang Vyas Kaushal Jhaveri (Telgi's early associate) Mukesh Tiwari Police Officer/Associate Sana Amin Sheikh Nafisa Telgi (Telgi's wife) Iravati Harshe DCP Malti Halani Critical Reception Scam 2003 - The Telgi Story (TV Series 2023)
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (Season 1, Part 1) is a Hindi biographical financial thriller that premiered on September 1, 2023 , exclusively on . As the spiritual successor to the acclaimed
, this installment chronicles the meteoric rise and eventual fall of Abdul Karim Telgi, the mastermind behind India's massive ₹30,000 crore stamp paper fraud. Core Details Release Date: September 1, 2023 (Part 1: Episodes 1–5). Streaming on Directed by Tushar Hiranandani Hansal Mehta serving as the showrunner. Source Material: Adapted from the book Telgi Scam: Reporter’s Ki Diary by journalist Sanjay Singh Cast & Characters Gagan Dev Riar
Scam 2003's Gagan Dev Riar on how the show relates to his own life: 'I can understand the plight, struggle and poverty' Gagan Dev Riar Dinesh Lal Yadav
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story — The Rise of India’s Stamp Paper King Following the massive success of
, the franchise returns to explore another high-profile financial fraud that shook the nation. Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (Season 1, Part 1) , directed by Tushar Hiranandani and produced by Hansal Mehta
, dives into the life of Abdul Karim Telgi, the mastermind behind a staggering ₹30,000 crore counterfeit stamp paper scam. The Plot: From Fruit Seller to Fraud Kingpin
The first five episodes of Part 1 trace Telgi's humble beginnings as a fruit seller in Khanapur, Karnataka. His journey to becoming a "scamster" begins with small-scale forgeries—faking passports and visas for laborers traveling to Saudi Arabia.
The narrative quickly shifts as Telgi discovers a massive loophole in the Indian administrative system: stamp papers . By bribing officials at the Indian Security Press in Nashik
, he creates an artificial shortage of genuine documents while flooding the market with his own high-quality fakes. Performance Highlights Gagan Dev Riar as Abdul Karim Telgi:
Critics have widely praised Riar for his "invisibly riveting" performance, capturing Telgi's transition from a hopeful hustler to a menacing criminal. Supporting Cast: The series features strong performances from Mukesh Tiwari Sana Amin Sheikh Hemang Vyas , who plays Telgi's early con-partner. Critical Reception and Production Scam 2003 - The Telgi Story (TV Series 2023)
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story serves as a compelling second installment in the
franchise, capturing the rise of Abdul Karim Telgi, the mastermind behind a staggering ₹30,000 crore stamp paper fraud. Directed by Tushar Hiranandani with Hansal Mehta as showrunner, the series transitions from the stock market heights of its predecessor,
, to a gritty world of political corruption and administrative loopholes. The Highlight: Gagan Dev Riar’s Performance The show’s greatest strength is Gagan Dev Riar
, who delivers a "star-making" performance. He meticulously captures Telgi’s ordinary appearance—a middle-aged man with a protruding stomach and pudgy cheeks—which masks a razor-sharp, manipulative mind. Unlike the flamboyant Harshad Mehta, Riar's Telgi is understated and low-profile, navigating hurdles with a quiet, calculated swagger and a "gift of gab". Plot & Directorial Style
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (Season 1, Part 1) follows the audacious rise of Abdul Karim Telgi, a small-time fruit seller who masterminded India's massive ₹30,000 crore stamp paper scam. Part 1, consisting of the first five episodes, focuses on his early struggles and his "jugaadu" journey to becoming the kingpin of counterfeiting. Plot Summary: The Rise of a Mastermind
Humble Beginnings: The story starts with Telgi selling fruits on trains, using photocopies of his B.Com degree to wrap them, famously saying, "Paisa kamaya nahi, banaya jata hai" (Money isn't earned, it's made).
The First Break: A chance encounter on a train leads him to Mumbai, where he works at a guesthouse, marries the owner's daughter, and eventually moves to Saudi Arabia for work.
The Pivot to Crime: After returning to India, Telgi is arrested for forgery. In prison, he meets Kaushal Jhaveri and joins a "gum wash" operation to reuse old stamps. Realising this isn't scalable, he decides to pivot into the world of official stamp papers. Abdul Karim Telgi (played by Shiv Panditt): The
Building the Empire: Telgi begins stealing stamp papers from trains and uses political connections to attempt to get a license to sell them in bulk. His breakthrough comes when he infiltrates the Nashik Security Press by bribing an ultra-honest manager, gaining access to the machinery needed to print authentic-looking fakes. Part 1 Ending Explained
The first part concludes with Telgi at the peak of his operations but facing his first major internal and external threats:
Ruthlessness Revealed: When his trusted agent, Suleiman, goes rogue and steals cash, Telgi brutally beats him, showing a ruthless side previously hidden behind his polite "common man" persona.
Warehouse Fire: Local miscreants burn down his warehouse, but Telgi uses his "trademark smile" and deep pockets to secure Minister Jadhav as a new ally, saving his expanding business in Bhiwandi.
The Cliffhanger: Part 1 ends with Telgi successfully expanding into other states while keeping a low profile, believing that "it's the lion who gets hunted... not the mouse". However, the authorities are starting to take notice of the irregularities in the stamp paper market. Watch Scam 2003 - The Telgi Story - Sony LIV
The story of Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1, Part 1, traces the meteoric and illicit rise of Abdul Karim Telgi, a small-town fruit seller who orchestrated one of India's most massive financial frauds. The Early Hustle The Fruit Seller
: Abdul Karim Telgi begins his journey as a humble fruit vendor in Khanapur, Karnataka, often wrapping his goods in photocopies of his B.Com degree. Mumbai Dreams
: Seeking a better life, he moves to Mumbai, where he works at a guest house and eventually begins small-time forgeries, such as faking passports for laborers going to the Gulf. Prison Connection : After being arrested for forgery, Telgi meets Kaushal Jhaveri
in prison. Jhaveri introduces him to a "gum wash" gang that cleans used stamps, but Telgi quickly realizes this business isn't scalable enough for his ambitions. The Birth of the Stamp Paper Scam
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story - Watch & Download Online | Xstream Play
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Unlike Harshad Mehta, who was a flamboyant "Big Bull" operating from the towers of Bombay, Abdul Karim Telgi (played masterfully by Gagan Dev Riar) starts as a nobody. Season 1, Part 1 focuses on the "before the storm" phase. We see Telgi not as a mastermind, but as a desperate, small-time businessman.
The show is primarily in Hindi (with a heavy Marathi-Kannada influence), which adds authenticity. The dialogues in Part 1 are sharp and memorable:
These lines resonate because Part 1 establishes the moral decay of the late 90s and early 2000s. The system is already corrupt; Telgi just exploits the cracks.
While Scam 1992 used vibrant colors and fast cuts to mimic the stock market, Scam 2003 is brown, yellow, and grey. It smells of old paper, dust, and government offices.
Hansal Mehta uses a claustrophobic framing in Part 1. The camera often traps Telgi in doorways or behind grills, symbolizing his lower-middle-class prison. Even when he moves to Mumbai, the city looks intimidating, not glamorous.
The "Part 1" narrative is slow by design. It forces the Hindi-speaking audience to sit with discomfort. We are used to heroes. Telgi is an anti-hero, but Part 1 makes us root for his survival, even as he walks toward crime.