One of the most notorious criminal names in Indian history is Abdul Karim Telgi. He is perhaps best known as being the main defendant in the largest counterfeit stamp paper scheme to be uncovered, which rocked the foundations of India’s legal, banking and administrative systems. Many say that Abdul Karim Telgi has lived his life from rags to riches, and then from riches back down to rags. Additional, Abdul Karim Telgi’s situation uncovered corrupt practices and loopholes in government agencies. In this article, we will also talk about Abdul Karim Telgi Wife: Age, Biography, Family, Relationship, Net Worth & More, biography, family, net worth, Relationship and more.
Who is Abdul Karim Telgi
Abdul Karim Telgi was a criminal from India who led the scheme to produce and distribute counterfeit stamp paper throughout many states in India. He manufactured counterfeit stamp paper, which he later sold to various financial institutions including banks, insurance companies, stock brokers and lawyers. Due to the extensive nature of his operation, which continued undetected for a long period of time, his scheme became one of the largest financial frauds ever committed in the country of India.
Abdul Karim Telgi Age
Abdul Karim Telgi would be 65 Years old now (2026). He was born on 29 July 1961, in Khanapur, Karnataka. However, Abdul Karim Telgi died on October 23, 2017, at age 56 in Bengaluru while undergoing medical treatment while under judicial custody for the stamp paper scam. Even years later, after his passing, he is still extensively spoken of because of the stamp paper scam associated with him.
Abdul Karim Telgi Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Abdul Karim Telgi |
| Known For | Mastermind of India’s Stamp Paper Scam |
| Date of Birth | 29 July 1961 |
| Birthplace | Khanapur, Belgaum India |
| Age at Death | 56 Years |
| Date of Death | 23 October 2017 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Profession | Homemaker |
| College | Gogte College of Commerce, Belgaum |
| Net Worth (Estimated) | ₹200 billion (approx. US$2.4 billion) |
Abdul Karim Telgi Height, Weight, and Physical Stats
| Physical Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Height | Not Publicly Available |
| Weight | Not Publicly Available |
| Eye Colour | dark brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Body Type | Not Available |
| Skin Tone | Not Documented |
| Distinctive Features | Not Publicly Known |
Abdul Karim Telgi Family Background
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Ladsaab Telgi (Worked with Indian Railways) |
| Mother | Shariefabee Ladsaab Telgi |
| Siblings | Abdul Azim Telgi /Abdul Rahim Telgi |
| Religion | Islam |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Shahida Telgi |
| Children | One daughter – Sana Irfan Talikoti |
Abdul Karim Telgi Education
Telgi completed his early education in his hometown while also working part-time jobs to help support himself financially. Later, he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree from a college in Belgaum, India. The education that he received provided him with the necessary foundation and knowledge regarding business and finance; however, he took advantage of this education in the establishment of fraudulent businesses based on counterfeiting efforts.
Abdul Karim Telgi Career Journey
Following completion of educational studies, Telgi attempted several methods of obtaining employment that were considered to be legitimate for several years, then traveled to Saudi Arabia. After returning to India, he was engaged in minor illicit activities and the manufacture of false documentation. Eventually, he found weaknesses within the mechanisms for distributing stamped paper. He took advantage of these weaknesses and corruption among state officials to establish a vast network for producing and distributing counterfeit stamp papers throughout many different Indian states, from which he generated immense profits.
Abdul Karim Telgi Father
Telgi’s father was an employee of the Indian Railway system. He died at an early age, leaving Telgi and his siblings with little income to support them while they were growing up. This loss had a significant impact on Telgi’s formative years, which put pressure on him to start earning money early on in his life.
Abdul Karim Telgi Marriage / Relationship
Telgi led a relatively private life with his wife outside of the media spotlight, as little is known about their relationship until after Telgi was apprehended and brought to trial for his crimes. This is when the media began to report on his personal affairs.
Abdul Karim Telgi Wife
Shahida Telgi was Abdul Karim Telgi’s spouse. During the trial and investigation, the name of Abdul Karim Telgi’s spouse, Shahida Telgi was recorded in legal papers and she was said to have helped with regard to the management of his cases and his property during the hearing process.
Abdul Karim Telgi Children
Abdul Karim Telgi had one daughter but there is not much publicly available about Abdul’s children because his family distanced themselves from the media after the hoax was uncovered.
Telgi’s salary – Although his pay was neither established nor legal, all of Abdul’s income came from illegal activities and the large profits that he made from selling counterfeit stamp papers. These ‘unaccounted’ earnings comprised the vast majority of his illicit fortune.
Abdul Karim Telgi Salary
Telgi’s salary – Although his pay was neither established nor legal, all of Abdul’s income came from illegal activities and the large profits that he made from selling counterfeit stamp papers. These ‘unaccounted’ earnings comprised the vast majority of his illicit fortune.
Abdul Karim Telgi Social Media
| Platform | Username / Profile Name | Followers (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| @Abdul Karim Telgi | Not Publicly | |
| @Abdul Karim Telgi | 1.2K Followers | |
| YouTube | @Abdul Karim Telgi | Not Publicly |
Abdul Karim Telgi had no social media accounts; He lived before social networks became popular, and due to his criminal background, he stayed away from publicly available digital platforms.
Abdul Karim Telgi Net Worth
According to estimates, Abdul Karim Telgi had amassed an impressive amount, with a net worth that reached several hundred crore rupees at the peak of his activities. He owned several properties, had significant amounts of liquid cash, and was diversified with significant investments in multiple states. However, no official financial statement detailing exactly how much he made or where he kept it was ever released, as his income was illegal.
Lesser Known Facts About Abdul Karim Telgi
- The average person knows that Telgi lived a disciplined student life and a working student prior to the stamp paper scam – which he funded through small jobs.
- Prior to the stamp paper scam, he was an established forger of passport and other travel documents.
- As reported, he still enjoyed various illegal privileges while incarcerated due to corruption in the justice system.
Conclusion
The story of Abdul Karim Telgi is like a cautionary tale of a single man’s ambition and how ambition plus an environment of available corruption and systemic weakness can create an opportunity for great fraud. From a humble beginning to the head of a large-scale fraud that changed India, this is a classic example of ambition tempered by the ability to exploit others for personal benefit and destroy their lives. The stamp paper fraud destroyed not only Telgi’s life but also brought to light the inadequacies of Indian governance and left an indelible mark on the nation’s legal and financial sectors.
FAQs
Who is Abdul Karim Telgi?
Abdul Karim Telgi was an Indian criminal who became infamous as the mastermind behind the stamp paper scam, one of the biggest financial frauds in Indian history.
What was Abdul Karim Telgi age
If he were alive, Abdul Karim Telgi would have been 65 years old in 2026. He was born on 29 July 1961 and died in 2017.
Was Abdul Karim Telgi married?
Yes, Abdul Karim Telgi was married. His wife’s name was Shahida Telgi, and she was mentioned in legal proceedings related to his case.
What was Abdul Karim Telgi’s net worth?
At the peak of his illegal operations, Abdul Karim Telgi was believed to own assets worth hundreds of crores of rupees, though no exact figure was officially confirmed.
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