Telegram founder and chief executive Pavel Durov has criticised the government's temporary restriction on the messaging platform ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, saying the move affects ordinary users rather than those responsible for leaking examination material.&nbsp;In a post on X, Durov said the action impacts millions of users across India without addressing the source of the problem.&nbsp;“India’s IT ministry banned Telegram for one week because some users shared leaked exam questions. This punishes 150M+ ordinary Telegram users in India, not the insiders who leaked the exam materials,” he said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India’s IT ministry banned Telegram for one week because some users shared leaked exam questions. This punishes 150M+ ordinary Telegram users in India — not the insiders who leaked the exam materials. And the ban hasn&#39;t stopped anything. The leaks just moved to other apps. <a href="https://t.co/CzQWN4mXfb">https://t.co/CzQWN4mXfb</a>&mdash; Pavel Durov (@durov) <a href="https://x.com/durov/status/2066879467054649639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Durov also questioned the effectiveness of the restriction, arguing that it had failed to stop the circulation of leaked content.&nbsp;“And the ban hasn't stopped anything. The leaks just moved to other apps.”&nbsp;The criticism came as the National Testing Agency intensified efforts to tackle fraud ahead of the NEET UG re-examination scheduled for June 21.&nbsp;NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said the agency had identified a large scam network operating through Telegram channels that targeted students with false promises of access to examination papers.&nbsp;According to the agency, some channels were demanding amounts ranging from ₹14,000 to ₹25,000 and, in some cases, as much as ₹10 lakh while claiming they could provide the re-examination paper.&nbsp;“There is no leaked paper for the re-exam. The money is gone the moment you transfer it. Your admit card and WhatsApp number, if you sent them, become the tools they use to scam the next student.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/carney-invites-pm-modi-to-ottawa-india-and-canada-launch-security-information-pact-talks-at-g7-1781642050037">Carney invites PM Modi to Ottawa, India and Canada launch security information pact talks at G7</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">To every NEET candidate and parent - please watch this. A few minutes that could save you serious money and stress this week. Scammers on Telegram were running two rackets targeting you: 1️⃣ Channels demanding ₹14,000 to ₹25,000 - some even ₹10 lakh - claiming they&#39;ll send you… <a href="https://t.co/aqpickJLAv">pic.twitter.com/aqpickJLAv</a>&mdash; National Testing Agency (@NTA_Exams) <a href="https://x.com/NTA_Exams/status/2066851719468687612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Rights group questions legality of Telegram restriction</h2>The government has directed Google and Apple to remove Telegram from their app stores until June 22 as part of measures aimed at preventing paper leak claims during the re-examination period.&nbsp;The International Freedom Foundation also criticised the temporary restriction, describing it as excessive and legally questionable.&nbsp;“On the NTA's recommendation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has, under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, restricted access to the whole of Telegram in India until 22 June 2026, and has separately ordered the platform to switch off message-editing for every Indian user until 30 June 2026.”&nbsp;"This is a blunt, nationwide measure aimed at the conduct of rampant fraud rackets, and on the Government's own admission is constitutionally incompatible," it added.&nbsp;The NEET UG examination is being conducted again on June 21 after the government cancelled the earlier test held on May 3 following allegations of a question paper leak.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said fraudsters on Telegram were demanding anywhere between ₹14,000 and ₹10 lakh from students under the false promise of supplying the NEET re-examination paper.

Telegram founder and chief executive Pavel Durov has criticised the government's temporary restriction on the messaging platform ahead of the NEET UG 2026 re-examination, saying the move affects ordinary users rather than those responsible for leaking examination material. In a post on X, Durov said the action impacts millions of users across India without addressing the source of the problem. “India’s IT ministry banned Telegram for one week because some users shared leaked exam questions. This punishes 150M+ ordinary Telegram users in India, not the insiders who leaked the exam materials,” he said.

NTA Director General Abhishek Singh said fraudsters on Telegram were demanding anywhere between ₹14,000 and ₹10 lakh from students under the false promise of supplying the NEET re-examination paper.

'Ban hasn't stopped anything': Telegram CEO criticises restriction over NEET paper leak concerns

Russian authorities have launched a criminal inquiry into Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, accusing him of facilitating terrorist activity. The move marks a significant escalation in the government’s ongoing confrontation with the messaging platform, which remains widely used across the country. State-run newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that the case was opened following materials submitted by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Officials allege that Telegram has been infiltrated by Western and Ukrainian intelligence networks.&nbsp;Earlier this month, regulators announced they would deliberately slow Telegram’s traffic, citing repeated legal violations. The Kremlin has been encouraging users to migrate to a state-backed messaging service called MAX, part of a broader effort to construct what it describes as a “sovereign internet”, a digital ecosystem subject to strict domestic oversight.&nbsp;Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said authorities had identified content on Telegram that could represent a potential security risk. He claimed numerous breaches had been documented and accused the company’s leadership of refusing to cooperate with Russian regulators. According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, officials contend that Telegram was used in at least 13 alleged Ukrainian operations targeting senior Russian military figures, as well as in thousands of incidents involving bombings, arson, and assassinations since the war started.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-trump-trade-war-in-asia-ignites-as-china-imposes-restrictions-on-japan-over-remilitarisation-1771930000748">After Trump, trade war in Asia ignites as China imposes restrictions on Japan over ‘remilitarisation’</a>&nbsp;Despite intensifying pressure, Moscow has refrained from blocking Telegram outright. The app is deeply embedded in everyday communication for both civilians and government officials, and it plays a critical role on the battlefield.Russian officials have signaled that Telegram could continue operating if it complies fully with domestic regulations. Critics argue that such compliance would require granting authorities access to encrypted conversations and removing opposition-linked channels.&nbsp;Durov’s relationship with the Russian state has long been strained. He left Russia in 2014 after selling his stake in VK, often compared to Facebook, amid mounting political pressure. He later founded Telegram and now resides in Dubai, holding both Emirati and French citizenship. An earlier attempt by Moscow to ban Telegram in 2018 ultimately failed, leading to a period of uneasy coexistence. However, renewed restrictions on independent media and digital platforms have once again placed the messaging app under scrutiny.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/queen-camilla-praises-gisele-pelicot-s-extraordinary-dignity-1771938886278/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/queen-camilla-praises-gisele-pelicot-s-extraordinary-dignity-1771938886278/embed</a>&nbsp;Russia has already blocked platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, prompting many users to turn to virtual private networks to bypass restrictions. Durov has yet to respond publicly to the latest investigation. Earlier this month, however, he criticized Moscow’s measures, drawing comparisons to efforts by Iran to restrict the platform.&nbsp;The entrepreneur has also faced criticism in the West. Last August, French authorities detained him for three days as part of an inquiry into alleged criminal activity conducted via Telegram, including child exploitation material, narcotics distribution, and financial fraud.

Russia launches criminal case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov on suspicion of 'abetting terrorist activities'

Russian authorities have launched a criminal inquiry into Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, accusing him of facilitating terrorist activity. The move marks a significant escalation in the government’s ongoing confrontation with the messaging platform, which remains widely used across the country. State-run newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that the case was opened following materials submitted by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Officials allege that Telegram has been infiltrated by Western and Ukrainian intelligence networks. Earlier this month, regulators announced they would deliberately slow Telegram’s traffic, citing repeated legal violations. The Kremlin has been encouraging users to migrate to a state-backed messaging service called MAX, part of a broader effort to construct what it describes as a “sovereign internet”, a digital ecosystem subject to strict domestic oversight. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said authorities had identified content on Telegram that could represent a potential security risk. He claimed numerous breaches had been documented and accused the company’s leadership of refusing to cooperate with Russian regulators. According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, officials contend that Telegram was used in at least 13 alleged Ukrainian operations targeting senior Russian military figures, as well as in thousands of incidents involving bombings, arson, and assassinations since the war started. Also Read: After Trump, trade war in Asia ignites as China imposes restrictions on Japan over ‘remilitarisation’ Despite intensifying pressure, Moscow has refrained from blocking Telegram outright. The app is deeply embedded in everyday communication for both civilians and government officials, and it plays a critical role on the battlefield. Russian officials have signaled that Telegram could continue operating if it complies fully with domestic regulations. Critics argue that such compliance would require granting authorities access to encrypted conversations and removing opposition-linked channels. Durov’s relationship with the Russian state has long been strained. He left Russia in 2014 after selling his stake in VK, often compared to Facebook, amid mounting political pressure. He later founded Telegram and now resides in Dubai, holding both Emirati and French citizenship. An earlier attempt by Moscow to ban Telegram in 2018 ultimately failed, leading to a period of uneasy coexistence. However, renewed restrictions on independent media and digital platforms have once again placed the messaging app under scrutiny. https://www.wionews.com/videos/queen-camilla-praises-gisele-pelicot-s-extraordinary-dignity-1771938886278/embed Russia has already blocked platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, prompting many users to turn to virtual private networks to bypass restrictions. Durov has yet to respond publicly to the latest investigation. Earlier this month, however, he criticized Moscow’s measures, drawing comparisons to efforts by Iran to restrict the platform. The entrepreneur has also faced criticism in the West. Last August, French authorities detained him for three days as part of an inquiry into alleged criminal activity conducted via Telegram, including child exploitation material, narcotics distribution, and financial fraud.

Russia launches criminal investigation into Telegram founder Pavel Durov, escalating pressure as Kremlin pushes for tighter internet control

Pavel Durov, the Russian tech billionaire and the founder of Telegram, has announced an offer for women under the age of 37. He said he will cover the full cost of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for women who will conceive using his sperm. He also said that all of his biological children will one day inherit a share of his fortune. The 41-year-old, whose net worth is around $17 billion, has claimed to have already fathered at least 100 children through sperm donation. Moreover, he has six children from 3 partners, according to a report by the New York Post. &nbsp;&nbsp;He has described his sperm donations as a “civic duty," arguing that there is a global shortage of what he called “high-quality donor material” and that sperm donation should be destigmatised.&nbsp;“As long as they can establish their shared DNA with me, someday, maybe in 30 years from now, they will be entitled to a share of my estate after I’m gone,” Durov said during an interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast in October. He also said, “I make no difference between my children.”&nbsp;Durov has publicly linked falling sperm counts and rising infertility rates worldwide to environmental factors such as plastic pollution. He said he is happy to help solve the issue. Durov previously said that his sperm donation began in 2010 when he agreed to help a friend who was struggling to have children. After this, he continued donating as fertility specialists told him that there was a shortage. In a Telegram post in July 2024, Durov wrote, “My past donating activities have helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids."&nbsp;“Of course, there are risks, but I don’t regret having been a donor," he added. “The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I’m proud that I did my part to help alleviate it,” the billionaire said.

The 41-year-old, whose net worth is around $17 billion, has claimed to have already fathered at least 100 children through sperm donation.

Pavel Durov, the Russian tech billionaire and the founder of Telegram, has announced an offer for women under the age of 37. He said he will cover the full cost of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for women who will conceive using his sperm. He also said that all of his biological children will one day inherit a share of his fortune. The 41-year-old, whose net worth is around $17 billion, has claimed to have already fathered at least 100 children through sperm donation. Moreover, he has six children from 3 partners, according to a report by the New York Post. He has described his sperm donations as a “civic duty," arguing that there is a global shortage of what he called “high-quality donor material” and that sperm donation should be destigmatised. “As long as they can establish their shared DNA with me, someday, maybe in 30 years from now, they will be entitled to a share of my estate after I’m gone,” Durov said during an interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast in October. He also said, “I make no difference between my children.” Durov has publicly linked falling sperm counts and rising infertility rates worldwide to environmental factors such as plastic pollution. He said he is happy to help solve the issue. Durov previously said that his sperm donation began in 2010 when he agreed to help a friend who was struggling to have children. After this, he continued donating as fertility specialists told him that there was a shortage. In a Telegram post in July 2024, Durov wrote, “My past donating activities have helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids." “Of course, there are risks, but I don’t regret having been a donor," he added. “The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I’m proud that I did my part to help alleviate it,” the billionaire said.

The 41-year-old, whose net worth is around $17 billion, has claimed to have already fathered at least 100 children through sperm donation.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov offers full coverage of IVF for women under 37 for having his babies

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'Ban hasn't stopped anything': Telegram CEO criticises restriction over NEET paper leak concerns

'Abetting terrorist...': Russia launches criminal case against Telegram founder

Telegram founder offers full coverage of IVF for women for having his babies