Some reviewers at Pinkvilla and Indian Express found the narrative somewhat repetitive or "stretched," particularly in the middle episodes, but noted that Volume 2 (the final five episodes) delivers the "real meat" of the investigation and downfall. Where to Watch
Telgi exploited systemic vulnerabilities by bribing government officials to create an artificial shortage of official stamp papers. He then produced high-quality counterfeits using original machinery and dyes acquired through corrupt means. Scam 2003 The Telgi Story -2023- Web Series
For students of law, journalism, or finance, this series is a textbook. For casual viewers, it is a gripping crime drama that asks uncomfortable questions about morality in a corrupt system. Some reviewers at Pinkvilla and Indian Express found
Critics from outlets like The Hindu and The Quint describe Riar’s portrayal as "stunningly close" and "invisibly riveting," noting how he captures Telgi’s ordinary appearance and razor-sharp, business-focused mind. For students of law, journalism, or finance, this
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is a Hindi-language crime drama web series released in 2023 on Sony LIV. Created by the same team behind the critically acclaimed Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story , the series is a biographical and journalistic account of one of India’s most elaborate financial scams—the Stamp Paper Scam masterminded by Abdul Karim Telgi. The series traces Telgi’s rise from a small-time fruit seller and transporter to the orchestrator of a ₹20,000 crore (approx. $2.5 billion at the time) counterfeit stamp paper racket that spread across multiple Indian states. It explores the systemic corruption, bureaucratic failures, and political nexus that allowed the scam to flourish for nearly a decade.
