Telegram CEO accuses Reliance of sabotaging service in foreign countries
What's the story
Telegram's CEO Pavel Durov has accused Reliance of disrupting access to his company's messaging service for users outside India. The allegation comes after the Indian government temporarily banned Telegram, a move Durov says may be part of a larger competitive war. He specifically accused Reliance of using Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking to sabotage access to Telegram in countries like the UAE.
Competitive war
Allegations hint at business rivalry
Durov hinted that the disruption could be linked to business competition in the messaging space. He noted Reliance's partnership with Meta, which owns WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram. "This may be part of a competitive war, as Reliance is partially owned by Meta—the company behind WhatsApp," he claimed. Despite his allegations, Reliance has yet to respond publicly to Durov's claims.
Platform issues
Telegram temporarily banned in India
The allegations come as Telegram faces challenges in India. Earlier this week, Indian authorities temporarily banned access to the platform until Monday, over its alleged use by organized cheating networks involved in examination paper leaks. The National Testing Agency (NTA) alleged that fraud networks were using Telegram groups to target candidates appearing for the NEET 2026 re-examination on June 21.
User impact
Durov criticizes Indian government's decision
Durov criticized the government's decision, saying it punishes ordinary Telegram users in India instead of targeting those who leaked exam materials. He also claimed that he wouldn't be surprised if Reliance and WhatsApp were behind efforts to ban Telegram in India. The NTA recently revealed that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre had taken down a large number of Telegram channels, groups, and bots openly advertising their fraudulent and misleading purpose.