The series is adapted from the investigative book Telgi Scam: Reporter's ki Diary , authored by journalist Sanjay Singh, who originally broke the story.
The Indian streaming space has found a highly successful niche in chronicling the country’s most notorious financial crimes. Following the massive success of Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story , Applause Entertainment and SonyLIV returned with Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 . Directed by Tushar Hiranandani and masterminded by showrunner Hansal Mehta, this installment shifts focus from the bustling stock market of Mumbai to the complex world of counterfeit stamp papers. The series offers a gripping, detailed look into how one man exploited systemic loopholes to orchestrate a fraud valued at an estimated ₹30,000 crores. The Mastermind Behind the Printing Press
Harshad Mehta wanted fame and public adoration; Abdul Karim Telgi actively avoided the spotlight, preferring to operate from the shadows. Consequently, Scam 2003 Part 1 feels less like an aspirational tragedy and more like a true-crime police procedural. It may lack the rapid-fire, quote-worthy dialogue of the first season, but it compensates with its methodical, realistic depiction of white-collar crime. Final Verdict on Season 1 Part 1 Scam 2003 The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 Hindi...
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story Season 1 Part 1 succeeds because it refuses to merely copy its predecessor. By focusing on a different layer of Indian crime and systemic corruption, it delivers a fascinating character study of one of India's most complex white-collar criminals. Supported by Gagan Dev Riar’s stellar performance and Hansal Mehta’s sharp creative vision, the first part builds a tense foundation, leaving audiences eager to see how Telgi's house of cards eventually collapses in the second part.
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. The series is adapted from the investigative book
Riar brings a distinct charm and eerie realism to Telgi. He does not play Telgi as a conventional, smooth-talking Bollywood villain. Instead, he portrays him as a polite, middle-class family man who treats massive financial fraud like a standard 9-to-5 corporate job. Whether he is desperately pitching a business plan to a corrupt politician or casually ordering millions of rupees of fake paper, Riar’s body language, changing physical weight, and regional dialect are flawless.
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) Consequently, Scam 2003 Part 1 feels less like
Telgi’s inferiority complex (he hides his lack of education, wears cheap suits, mispronounces English words) mirrors India’s 1990s economic churn—where new money clashed with old legitimacy.
Season 1, Part 1 (Episodes 1–5) follows the meteoric rise of Abdul Karim Telgi , a humble fruit seller from Khanapur, Karnataka.