Telegram Ban: Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has leveled serious allegations against Reliance. He stated that Reliance is blocking access to Telegram even for users outside India.
Telegram Ban: Pavel Durov, CEO of messaging platform Telegram, which is facing a temporary ban in India, has leveled serious allegations against Reliance. He wrote on Twitter that the Indian telecom company Reliance is blocking access to Telegram for millions of users outside India, deliberately doing this to benefit WhatsApp. He even suggested that Reliance and WhatsApp may be behind the ban on Telegram in India. Let's understand the entire matter.
Durov is upset over the ban on Telegram.
The Indian government yesterday banned Telegram until June 22nd. This order was issued to prevent the platform's use in the paper leak incidents. Durov called the decision wrong, saying it would not stop the leaks. In another post, he targeted Reliance. In the latest development, Telegram has challenged the government's order in the Delhi High Court.
What did Durov say about Reliance?
In his post, Durov wrote that Reliance is blocking access to Telegram for people outside India, including the UAE, using a method called BGP hijacking. This is being done deliberately, and Reliance has not responded to complaints regarding this. According to Durov, this is part of a competition war because Reliance owns a stake in WhatsApp's parent company, Meta. The Telegram founder has urged network operators to reject unauthorized BGP announcements from Reliance to prevent route hijacking and ensure stable internet access for users. Durov stated that Reliance and WhatsApp may also be involved in the attempt to ban Telegram in India. Reliance has not yet responded to this matter.
Why is Telegram banned?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) says fraud networks are using Telegram groups to target candidates preparing for the NEET (UG) 2026 re-exam. The government stated that this decision was taken under the IT Act to prevent those involved in the paper leak from using the platform. Reacting to this order, Durov said that the government was punishing more than 150 million Telegram users instead of those responsible for the paper leak.
