Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Alleges Reliance and WhatsApp Backed Efforts to Ban Telegram in India

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has alleged that telecom and technology interests linked to Reliance and WhatsApp may have played a role in efforts to restrict Telegram’s operations in India amid the government’s temporary ban on the messaging platform.

The allegations were made by Durov in a series of posts on X, where he also accused an Indian telecom operator of disrupting Telegram’s connectivity outside India through internet routing practices.

Durov Claims Telegram Access Was Disrupted

According to Durov, a telecom network identified as Reliance (AS18101) allegedly announced unauthorized internet routes, affecting Telegram users in several countries, including the United Arab Emirates.

“Indian telecom Reliance is sabotaging access to Telegram for millions of users outside India through a rogue method called BGP hijacking,” Durov claimed in his social media post.

He further suggested that the actions could be linked to competition between Telegram and WhatsApp, noting that Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, holds a minority investment in Reliance Jio.

Durov also stated that network operators should reject unauthorized routing announcements to ensure stable internet connectivity for Telegram users.

Links Alleged Lobbying Efforts to Telegram Ban

The Telegram chief additionally claimed that the same interests could have supported lobbying efforts against Telegram in India.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Reliance and WhatsApp were also behind the recent lobbying effort to ban Telegram in India,” Durov wrote.

However, he did not provide evidence publicly linking the companies to the government’s decision.

Industry Sources Reject Allegations

A senior telecom industry source dismissed the claims, saying Durov appeared to have confused two separate corporate entities.

According to the source, the autonomous system number (AS18101) referenced by Durov is associated with former telecom operator Reliance Communications (RCom), which is separate from Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and its digital business, Jio.

The source also noted that Meta’s investment in Jio is a minority stake and does not provide operational control over the company.

“The allegations regarding Meta relate to Jio, while the network referenced by Durov belongs to another entity. Conflating the two demonstrates a misunderstanding of the sector or an incorrect interpretation of the facts,” the source said.

Telegram Ban Linked to NEET Re-Examination

The controversy comes after Indian authorities ordered Apple and Google to temporarily remove Telegram from their app stores until June 22, ahead of the re-conducted National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG).

Officials cited concerns that Telegram channels had previously been used to distribute leaked examination papers and related material.

The government also directed Telegram to temporarily disable editing of already-posted messages within India until June 30. Authorities said the measure was intended to prevent manipulation of examination-related evidence after publication.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting the re-examination on June 21 following the cancellation of an earlier test amid allegations of question paper leaks.

No Official Responses Yet

At the time of publication, Telegram, Reliance Communications, Jio, Meta, and WhatsApp had not publicly responded to the latest allegations.

The dispute marks the latest escalation in tensions between Telegram and Indian authorities following the temporary restrictions imposed ahead of the NEET re-examination.