Telegram
founder Pavel Durov has criticised India's temporary ban on the messaging
platform, arguing that the move has "punished" more than 150 million
users without preventing the spread of leaked examination materials.
In
a post on X, Durov said the restrictions had failed to stop the circulation of
leaked content, which had instead migrated to other platforms. "The leaks
simply moved to other apps," he said. He also highlighted Telegram's
efforts to work with Indian authorities, noting that the platform had removed
hundreds of channels sharing leaked exam materials and scams in recent weeks,
and made the edited label more visible to prevent backdating scams.
India
temporarily restricted access to Telegram until June 22, citing concerns that
the platform was being used by organised groups attempting to defraud
candidates sitting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)
re-examination scheduled for June 21. The restriction follows the cancellation
of the exam last month after allegations of a paper leak affecting around 2.3
million students. The government also directed Telegram to disable its
message-editing feature in India until June 30.
Telegram has approached the Delhi High Court to challenge the government's order, arguing that the decision was taken unilaterally without first seeking an explanation from the company. The alleged paper leak is under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation, with more than a dozen arrests reported so far.
