Shahida Telgi was an Indian woman prominently known as Abdul Karim Telgi Wife, the mastermind behind India’s Stamp Paper Scam in 2003. Initially, Shahida was not directly involved; however, later her name was identified in the fraudulent case that stirred the country. The narrative of her life is a reflection of a fight through controversies, sickness, and loyalty to her husband’s last wishes. In this post, you will get information about Shahida Telgi’s life journey and scams.
Shahida Telgi Biography
Shahida Telgi was an Indian woman most recognized as the Abdul Karim Telgi wife the mastermind behind India’s ₹30,000 crore Stamp Paper Scam of 2003. She was born in 1960 and raised in Khanpur, Belgaum, Karnataka. Shahida lived a modest lifestyle, but after her husband’s controversial activities, she too was implicated and arrested. She was detained in 2005 and was released on bail in 2007 due to her health condition.
| Full Name | Shahida Telgi |
|---|---|
| Known For | Wife of counterfeiter Abdul Karim Telgi involved in the 2003 Stamp Paper Scam |
| Date of Birth | 1960 |
| Birthplace | Khanpur, Belgaum, Karnataka, India |
| Date of Death | 2022 |
| Age (at death) | 62 Years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Islam |
| Hometown | Belgaum, Karnataka |
| Marital Status | Widow |
| Spouse | Abdul Karim Telgi (Died in 2017) |
| Children | Daughter – Sana Talikoti |
| Death Cause | Prolonged Illness |
| Famous For | Being the wife of Abdul Karim Telgi, accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper case |
Shahida Telgi Age
When she passed away in 2022, Shahida Telgi was 62 years old. She was born in 1960 in Khanpur, Belgaum (Karnataka)
| Year of Birth | 1960 |
| Age at Death | 62 Years (2022) |
| Birthplace | Khanpur, Belgaum, Karnataka |
Shahida Telgi Height, Weight & Physical Status
Shahida lived in a very simple and traditional way. Her height was 5 feet 5 inches, and she had black eyes and black hair.
| Height (Approx.) | 165 cm / 1.65 m / 5’5” |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Body Type | Average |
| Health Condition | Reportedly suffered from HIV and other illnesses |
Early Life and Family Background
Shahida Telgi was brought up in a small home in Khanpur, Belgaum, and was raised in a traditional Muslim family. Not much is known about her parents and early years, as she remained distant from the public and media until her husband’s case was made public.
After she tied the knot with Abdul Karim Telgi, her life changed dramatically. Abdul Karim Telgi was the one who was later found guilty of the largest fake stamp paper racket. The two lived in Karnataka and were later taken to court over the scandal that was made public in 2003.
| Father Name | Not Known |
| Mother’s Name | Not Known |
| Siblings | Not Known |
| Husband | Abdul Karim Telgi |
| Children | Daughter – Sana Talikoti |
Education
There is limited verified information about Shahida’s educational background. Reports suggest she completed her schooling in Belgaum, but she was never publicly associated with any higher educational institution.
| School | Local School, Belgaum |
| College | Not Known |
| Qualification | Not Known |
Shahida Telgi Career
There is no record of Shahida Telgi having a career that was of her own merit. Her name came up several times in connection with her husband’s fraudulent activities. In 2003, her involvement in the Stamp Paper Scam was being investigated, which was only a matter of time before they probed her role in the case.
She was alleged to have conspired in the counterfeit stamp paper case that was valued at more than thirty thousand crores of rupees. Following her two failures to appear in court, she was taken into custody. It was later reported that she was affected by a number of diseases, among them HIV, which necessitated her transfer from Yerawada Jail to a private hospital.
Her bail was finally secured in 2007 after a long legal battle, on medical grounds, under Section 439 of the CrPC. Her lawyer had made the point that her health was deteriorating and, therefore, she should be allowed to go free.
| Profession | Homemaker |
| Known For | Association with Telgi Scam Case |
| Year of Arrest | 2005 |
| Bail Granted | 2007 |
| Legal Representation | Advocate Milind Pawar |
Interesting Facts About Shahida Telgi
- She was accused of the ₹30,000 crore fake stamp paper scam in 2003.
- Shahida was suffering from HIV, due to which she was released on bail.
- In 2017, she filed an application in court requesting that Telgi’s benami properties be confiscated by the government for national benefit.
- Her daughter Sana Talikoti filed a legal notice in 2022 to stop the release of the SonyLIV series “Scam 2003.”
- She lived a very private life after being released on bail and was rarely seen in public.
Abdul Karim Telgi Wife
Shahida was the wife of Abdul Karim Telgi, a man who was responsible for one of the largest counterfeit scams in India. Their marriage went through a lot of problems because of his illegal activities and court cases. In spite of the trouble, Shahida supported her husband even after he was jailed and died.
They were blessed with a daughter named Sana Talikoti, who eventually filed a lawsuit against the producers of “Scam 2003: The Telgi Story” to safeguard her father’s reputation.”
| Marital Status | Widow |
| Husband | Abdul Karim Telgi (Died 2017) |
| Children | Daughter – Sana Talikoti |
| Religion | Islam |
| Residence | Belgaum, Karnataka |
Shahida Telgi Net Worth
Shahida Telgi’s personal net worth is not available in the public domain.
| Source of Income | None (Dependent on Husband’s Assets) |
| Estimated Family Net Worth (Before Seizure) | Approx. ₹200 crore |
| Post-Scam Status | Properties seized by Government |
Shahida Telgi Social Media Profiles
Shahida Telgi was not on any social networking site. But her daughter, Sana Talikoti, is a little bit active on the internet. Shahida was away from the world and didn’t have any verified social media accounts on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.
Shahida Telgi Controversy
The Stamp Paper Scam (Telgi Scam) is counted as one of the major financial scandals in India’s history, with the total money involved estimated to be ₹30,000 crores. Shahida was charged with aiding or knowing her husband’s illegal activities.
After failing to show up in court, she was taken into custody in 2005 but due to her ill health, she was let out on bail in 2007. At last, she came back to court in 2017 and made a very different and surprising request; she asked the court to take over her husband’s properties for the nation’s benefit.
| Year | Controversy | Daughter filed a case against “Scam 2003” filmmakers |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Requested the confiscation of Telgi’s properties | Investigated |
| 2005 | Arrested after missing court hearings | Sent to Yerawada Jail |
| 2007 | Released on medical bail due to HIV | Granted bail |
| 2017 | Daughter filed a case against “Scam 2003” filmmakers | Application accepted |
| 2022 | Daughter filed case against “Scam 2003” filmmakers | Legal notice issued |
Recent News
Shahida’s daughter Sana Talikoti in 2022 formally warned filmmaker Hansal Mehta through a legal notice that she would not tolerate the production of the web series “Scam 2003: The Curious Case of Abdul Karim Lala Telgi”.
In spite of all these controversies from the let of this series, “Scam 2003: The Telgi Story” appeared on SonyLIV in 2023 with the direction of Hansal Mehta and the production of Applause Entertainment. It was a picturization of the life of Abdul Karim Telgi along with his crimes.
Conclusion
The crimes of her husband, Abdul Karim Telgi, were the root cause that pushed Shahida Telgi’s life into a downward spiral. Her transition from a modest lifestyle in Belgaum to becoming associated with one of the largest financial scams in India was nothing but a bumpy road. Even while fighting disease and slander from the crowd, she stayed true to her husband’s memory — she even implored the court to grant his riches to the government. The story of her life is a cautionary tale of how the illegal acts of one person can reshape the destinies of the rest of his family.
Refresh Date: November 15, 2025
