India’s Telegram Ban Affects 150 Million Users as Durov Accuses Reliance

Telegram’s temporary ban in India ahead of the NEET-UG re-exam has sparked a much larger controversy after Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused Reliance of interfering with Telegram access beyond India’s borders. 

The dispute began after reports emerged that the Indian government temporarily restricted Telegram before the June 21 NEET-UG re-test over concerns that leaked exam papers and related content were being circulated on the platform.

According to reports, Telegram has moved the matter to the Delhi High Court, challenging the government’s decision.

Why Was Telegram Banned?

Authorities reportedly took action after exam-related leaks were shared through Telegram channels before the re-examination. The government argued the move was necessary to protect the integrity of the exam process and prevent the spread of leaked materials.

However, Durov strongly disagreed with the decision.

“India’s IT ministry banned Telegram for one week because some users shared leaked exam questions,” he wrote on X.

According to Durov, the ban affects more than 150 million Telegram users in India while doing little to stop the people actually responsible for the leaks. “The leaks just moved to other apps,” he added. 

CBSE whistleblower Nisarg Adhikary even commented on the issue and said that the government’s ban on apps like telegram will not solve paper leak claims. Users will find another way out. 

Durov Accuses Reliance of Blocking Telegram

The story escalated when Durov made a separate allegation against Reliance Industries.

He claimed Reliance used BGP hijacking to disrupt Telegram access. This affected users outside India, including the UAE.

“The sabotage seems intentional,” Durov wrote, adding that Reliance had allegedly ignored multiple reports about the issue. He also called on network operators worldwide to reject unauthorized routing announcements from Reliance.

Community Asks for Proof

Durov’s claims quickly triggered debate online. One user asked whether there was any technical evidence supporting the allegations. 

Durov responded with a brief answer: “Plenty.” 

He later stated that Telegram was escalating the matter with UAE telecom operator “du,” arguing that it was alarming if a telecom operator in India could allegedly affect internet access for users in another country.

Meanwhile, Reliance has not given any official comments on the matter.