Abdul Karim Telgi: Wife, Daughter, Age, Height, Girlfriend, Death & Biography

Abdul Karim Telgi was a central figure in one of the most notorious financial scandals in Indian history — the multi-crore stamp paper scam. His life journey from humble beginnings to becoming the mastermind behind a criminal empire is a cautionary tale of how ambition, systemic loopholes, and corruption can converge to create a massive fraud with far-reaching consequences. Check out the Abdul Karim biography, lifestyle, wife, girlfriend, counterfeits, and other details from here:

Abdul Karim Telgi’s Biography

People can see Abdul Karim Telgi information about his birthday, nationality, schooling, education, cricket career, and other basic information from the table mentioned below:

Physical Stats

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Abdul Karim Telgi: Early Life and Background

Abdul Karim Telgi was born in 1961 in Khanapur, a small town in the Belagavi (formerly Belgaum) district of Karnataka, India. He came from a modest Muslim family. His father, who worked as an employee in Indian Railways, passed away when Telgi was young, which thrust him into financial hardship early in life.

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To support his education, Telgi reportedly sold fruits and peanuts on trains — a humble start that reveals much about his resilience and drive. He later completed his schooling and pursued a degree in commerce from a local college. However, his dreams of prosperity led him abroad.

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In the late 1980s, he moved to Saudi Arabia in search of better job opportunities, where he worked for several years. It was during this time that he started developing an understanding of various business operations, albeit leaning increasingly toward illicit ventures.

Abdul Karim Telgi: Entry into the World of Crime

After returning from the Middle East in the early 1990s, Telgi set up a company called Arabian Metro Travels, which was primarily involved in providing fake documents for labourers seeking work abroad. This was his first major foray into criminal activity and the beginning of a long career in fraud.

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He soon realised that the profits from document forgery were limited compared to what he could earn through more organised, large-scale operations. This marked the beginning of his involvement in the counterfeit stamp paper business — an idea that would eventually catapult him into infamy.

Abdul Karim Telgi: The Stamp Paper Scam

Abdul Telgi’s scam involved the large-scale printing and distribution of fake stamp papers — used for legal and financial transactions like property sales, insurance, and court documentation. He acquired a government license to print stamp papers and, using this as a cover, established a clandestine printing press in Mumbai.

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With the help of corrupt government officials, law enforcement, and politicians, he managed to distribute counterfeit stamp papers across several Indian states including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.

At the peak of the scam, it is believed that Telgi was running a counterfeit racket worth over ₹30,000 crore (approximately USD 4 billion). The fake stamp papers were so convincingly made that even banks and government agencies fell for the trap.

Telgi Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Abdul Karim Telgi was first arrested in 2001 by the Karnataka police. However, the full magnitude of the scam came to light only later, sparking outrage across the country. A series of investigations followed, led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Special Investigation Teams (SITs).

In 2007, a special court convicted Abdul Karim Telgi under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery. He was sentenced to 30 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹202 crore (about USD 25 million). Several government officials and associates were also convicted in connection with the scam.

Abdul Karim Telgi: Personal Life: Age, Height, Wife, and Family

Abdul Karim Telgi Age

 Abdul Karim Telgi was born in 1961 and died in 2017, making him 56 years old at the time of his death.

Abdul Krim Telgi Height

 He was approximately 5 feet 6 inches

Abdul Karim Telgi Wife

​Abdul Karim Telgi was married to Shahida Telgi, whom he wed on April 19, 1987. They had a daughter named Sana Talikoti. Shahida was implicated in the 2003 counterfeit stamp paper scam and was arrested in 2005 after missing court appearances.

Wife of Abduk Karim Telgi, Shahida Telgi  suffered from HIV and other health issues, leading to her release on bail in 2007 for medical treatment. Shahida passed away in 2022 at the age of 62 due to complications related to her illness .​

Abdul Karim Telgi Girlfriend

​Abdul Karim Telgi  was reportedly romantically involved with Tarannum Khan, a prominent bar dancer in Mumbai. Tarannum gained widespread attention in 2003 when reports surfaced about her alleged relationship with Telgi. 

Known for her striking resemblance to Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit, Tarannum was a star performer at Mumbai’s Deepa Bar. Telgi was reportedly enamored with her and, in a lavish display of affection, once showered her with ₹93 lakh in a single night . 

Abdul Karim Telgi Death

Abdul Karim Telgi died on October 23, 2017, at the Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. He was suffering from multiple health issues, including diabetes and hypertension. He was also diagnosed with meningitis during his final days. His health had been deteriorating in prison, and he was in and out of the hospital several times.

He died under judicial custody, and after his death, the Karnataka Police confirmed that all necessary postmortem and legal procedures were followed. His body was handed over to his family and buried in his hometown.

Lesser Known Facts About Abdul Karim Telgi

• During the trial, Telgi once claimed to be suffering from neurological disorders to avoid court appearances. However, medical reports declared him fit, raising suspicions about his tactics.
• Telgi’s life has inspired several documentaries and dramatized series, most notably *Scam 2003: The Telgi Story by Hansal Mehta, which brought renewed public interest to the story.
• Donated Money for Mosques: Despite being a criminal, Telgi was known to donate large sums of money to mosques and religious causes, possibly in an attempt to legitimize his image within the community.
• Failed Polygraph Test: During the investigation, Telgi reportedly failed a polygraph (lie detector) test, especially when asked about political connections — adding fuel to public speculation.
• Prison Diaries: It is believed that Telgi kept detailed records of his finances and operations even in jail, though these were never officially recovered or confirmed.