Pavel Durov criticizes India blocking Telegram over NEET-UG leak
Telegram's founder and CEO Pavel Durov isn't happy about India blocking the app until June 22, 2026, after claims it was used to leak NEET-UG exam papers.
The government cited section 69A of the IT Act and asked Telegram to turn off message editing for Indian users until June 30, 2026.
Durov publicly criticized the decision, arguing that the restriction affects millions of legitimate users while failing to stop those responsible for sharing leaked material.
Telegram challenges ban in Delhi HC
Telegram is challenging the ban in the Delhi High Court.
Durov, who started VKontakte in Russia before launching Telegram with his brother in 2013, has always focused on privacy and secure chats.
By 2026, Telegram hit over one billion monthly active users worldwide and became a go-to app for people needing free speech, especially where internet access is restricted.