Abdul Karim Telgi was a notorious Indian counterfeiter, know his biography and net worth
With ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’s’ enormous success, viewers can now look forward to the show’s eagerly anticipated return with its forthcoming season.
Abdul Karim Telgi net worth, scam amount, story, biography, age, family, wife, religion and education
“Scam 2003: The Curious Case of Abdul Karim Telgi,” a new television production by Hansal Mehta, is based on Sanjay Singh’s Hindi novel of the same name. He was also the origin for the information concerning Telgi’s scam.
Khel bada tha, aur khiladi…!
The story of one of India's biggest scam by Abdul Karim Telgi, which shocked the nation with its unimaginable scale.
Streaming on 2nd September, only on Sony LIV@SonyLIV @SonyLIVIntl pic.twitter.com/EcK578UuoO— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) August 4, 2023
Manoj Bajpayee’s gripping voiceover in the freshly released trailer transports us back in time to the previous season, which mesmerizingly portrayed the historic Rs 5,000 crore Indian stock market scam of 1992.
In this latest chapter, the narrative focus changes to the compelling account of the Rs 30,000 crore fraud perpetrated by none other than Abdul Karim Telgi, a notorious forger who was formerly a fruit trader.
The remark “Paisa kamaya nahi banaya jaata hai” (Money isn’t earned, it’s generated) that appears in a teaser clip has become a hit with online memes. Yet, intriguingly, the enigmatic visage of the titular character remains concealed throughout the teaser, leaving audiences intrigued and hungry for more.
Due to all this, Abdul Karim Telgi has become the talk of the town, with many people trying to know more about him. So, here’s what we know about him:
Who is Abdul Karim Telgi?
Abdul Karim Telgi was a notorious Indian counterfeiter and convicted scammer. He has been in the news because Hansal Mehta is going to make a movie about his life.
On 29 July 1961, he was born in Khanapur, Belgaum, Karnataka, India. His father was an employee of the Indian Railways who passed away while he was a little boy, and his mother was Shariefabee Ladsaab Telgi. He also has two brothers.
Abdul Karim Telgi reportedly earned his elementary education at the English-medium Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Khanapur. After completing his schooling, he went to Saudi Arabia, and seven years later, he went back to India and started a career in counterfeiting.
He was married, and his wife’s name is Shahida. The couple also has one child. He died on 23 October 2017 in Bengaluru, India. At the time of his death, he was 56 years old. He was a Muslim by religion.
His career
After leaving Saudi Arabia, Abdul Karim Telgi started an unusual business, establishing Arabian Metro Tours on New Marine Lines. He skillfully created a tapestry of lies by creating a variety of fictitious documents that played a vital role in enabling workers to pass through airport barriers.
His sophisticated ploy got them through immigration’s watchful eyes, even when they were met with annoying ECR (emigration check required) stamps and other significant obstacles. As he delved deeper into the realm of deception, his ventures evolved to encompass the counterfeiting of stamp papers, unleashing a more intricate and audacious scheme.
In this process, Abdul Karim Telgi reportedly orchestrated a network of 300 agents, strategically targeting prominent clientele such as banks, insurance institutions, and stock brokerage firms to offload his counterfeit wares. The staggering scale of his scam amounted to a jaw-dropping $100 billion (US$1.3 billion).
As a result, Telgi and other friends were given a 30-year prison sentence, and for another aspect of the case, he was given a 13-year prison term and was fined $10 billion ($130 million). The Income Tax Agency also seized Telgi’s property to cover the fines.
Abdul Karim Telgi’s cause of death
After experiencing several organ failures, Telgi passed away. He was also suffering from meningitis, diabetes, and hypertension.
In six years Abdul Karim Telgi, son of a station master in Khanapur village near Bangalore, made revenues of Rs 25,000 crore. Telgi allegedly had 36 properties across the country and had more than 120 bank accounts in 18 countries.