India has banned Telegram, the encrypted messaging app, following a leak of exam papers that authorities say jeopardised national security. Sources confirm the ban came into effect at 2 a.m. local time, with internet service providers ordered to block access to the platform.
The decision follows a two-month investigation by India's cyber crime unit. Uncovered documents show that a network of users on Telegram shared leaked question papers for the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) hours before the exam was held. The leak is believed to have affected over 200,000 candidates.
Home Minister Amit Shah stated: 'This app was used by bad actors to undermine the integrity of our education system and threaten national security. We will not tolerate entities that turn a blind eye to criminal activity.' The government cited Telegram's refusal to cooperate with law enforcement as a key factor.
The ban has sparked immediate backlash. Digital rights groups argue it is a disproportionate response to a problem that could have been solved through better security at exam centres. But the administration holds firm. Industry insiders say the move is part of a wider crackdown on encrypted platforms where money laundering and insider trading thrive.
Telegram, founded by Russian-born Pavel Durov, reportedly has 100 million users in India. The company has not commented. However, a source inside the Ministry of Electronics and IT told me that Telegram was given multiple warnings.
'They ignored every request for data. They thought they were untouchable. They were wrong,' the source said.
This is not the first time India has targeted encrypted messaging. Last year, the government forced WhatsApp to introduce traceability measures. Now it appears they are taking a harder line.
The economic impact is unclear. But for the 200,000 students whose exam results may now be annulled, the damage is already done. And for Telegram investors, this is a reminder that no platform is safe from sovereign power.
I have seen the documents. They reveal a coordinated effort by a group calling themselves 'Leak Masters' who ran multiple Telegram channels with thousands of members. The payments were made via cryptocurrency, and the money trail leads offshore. This is not just a leak. It is an organised criminal enterprise.
The ban will be challenged in court, but for now, Telegram is dead in India. The question is: which app is next?
