Scam 1992 director Hansal Mehta to helm web-series Scam 2003

After the success of SonyLIV's Scam 1992, a Hindi web-series that delves into the life of controversial stockbroker Harshad Mehta, director Hansal Mehta is back with its successor, Scam 2003, which will be streamed on the same platform. This time, Mehta will tackle the infamous stamp paper scam, which was orchestrated by Abdul Karim Telgi, a counterfeiter.

While Scam 1992 was based on Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu’s book The Scam, the new show will be based on journalist Sanjay Singh’s Hindi book titled Reporter Ki Diary. It was Singh who had broken the story of Telgi's racket. 

Tentatively titled Scam 2003: The Curious Case Of Abdul Karim Telgi, the show will be out in 2022. The cast and other details are currently being kept under wraps. 

The makers have roped in the famous Marathi screenwriter Kiran Yadnyopavit to develop the series along with Singh. 

A statement from the producers, Applause Entertainment, read, “The series promises to be an intriguing watch as it will capture the life of Abdul Karim Telgi, born in Khanapur in Karnataka, and his journey to becoming the mastermind behind one of India’s most ingenious scams spread across multiple states which shook the entire country. It is estimated that the scam value was allegedly around Rs20000 crore (sic).” 

Mehta said in a statement that he was delighted to explore yet another fascinating story following the immense success of Scam 1992. "The new season of this franchise will focus on another riveting story that shook the country a few years ago —  the stamp paper scam. I am looking forward to collaborating again with team Applause, SonyLIV and StudioNEXT, partners who think alike and encourage creative thought,” he said.

Producer Sameer Nair indicated that there might be more such series in the years to come. “Scam 1992 has helped establish a solid ground for the Scam franchise where we aim to tell stories about the various scams that our country has witnessed, the people behind it, their motivations and machinations. The success of Scam 1992 endorsed our belief about the audiences’ interest in such stories,” he said.

He added, “We are extremely thrilled to announce The Telgi Story as the next season. There is some great potential we see in this story and are absolutely delighted to partner once again with StudioNEXT, SonyLIV and Hansal Mehta in taking forward this franchise.”

Telgi was born in 1961. He sold fruits and vegetables in trains in order to support his family and fund his education. He later when to Saudi Arabia for some time to make a living. 

After he returned, he started an immensely successful stamp paper counterfeiting operation. His illegal venture started spreading at a rapid pace but Telgi was ultimately nabbed and jailed. He died due to multiple-organ failure in 2017.