India Blocks Telegram: Pavel Accuses Reliance, Will Ban Lift Now?

India Blocks Telegram and Pavel Durov Fires Back on Reliance: Next?

India blocks Telegram. The order landed on June 16, 2026. It's set to run until June 22. The reason? A leaked exam paper. But the story didn't stop there.

Founder Pavel Durov fired back hard. He pointed a finger at Reliance. And crypto markets felt the shock too.

Inside India's Telegram Block and Pavel's Reliance Row

This single decision touched millions of lives. It also dragged in a telecom giant, a rival messaging app, and a crypto token. Here's how it all unfolded.

Why Did India Blocks Telegram in 2026?

India's IT ministry blocked the app for one week. The trigger was the NEET-UG 2026 medical entrance exam. The original exam, held May 3, got cancelled. Officials traced a leak across multiple states. A re-exam is now set for June 21.

This punishes 150 million-plus ordinary users. The actual leak insiders walk free. Here's the twist. The ban hasn't stopped the leaks. They simply moved to other apps.

Pavel Durov Fires Back at Reliance

Durov didn't stay quiet. He made a serious claim.

Source: X Post

• He accused the telecom firm of BGP hijacking. In plain terms, that means faking internet route signals to redirect traffic.
• Durov says this blocked access for users outside India too, including in the UAE
• He named Reliance's network ID, AS18101, as the source
• He called it intentional, since Reliance allegedly ignored multiple reports

Then he raised a bigger question. Reliance is partly owned by Meta. Meta owns WhatsApp, the biggest rival.

Durov even suggested Reliance and WhatsApp may have lobbied for the ban itself. He's now urging network operators worldwide to reject Reliance's unauthorized BGP signals.

How Crypto and Mining Games Took the Hit

The India blocks Telegram news rattled crypto fast.

Toncoin, also called GRAM, dropped over 3% in a single day. At the time of writing, TON trades near $1.64. Its market cap sits at $4.42 billion, with $39.4 million in 24-hour volume.

But not everything broke down:

• Mining bots still work fine through VPS connections
• Daily combo games keep running
• Premium accounts remain smooth, no issues there

So the tap-to-earn 2026 crowd hasn't lost everything. They've just worked around the block.

Will India Unban it Now?

Everyone's asking the same question: will India unban now? The real trigger here is NEET-UG 2026. A fresh exam is scheduled for June 21, 2026.

As of now, there's no official word on lifting the ban early. The safest move is to wait for an update, or watch for June 22, 2026, when the current order is due to expire.

Expert Opinion: This episode shows how platform bans rarely fix the root problem. Blocking an app doesn't catch leak insiders; it mostly inconveniences regular users while bad actors simply adapt. The Reliance allegation adds another layer. If proven, BGP hijacking would mark a troubling misuse of internet infrastructure for competitive gain, separate from any government order. For crypto holders, this is a reminder that token prices tied to messaging platforms can swing on regulatory headlines alone, not just product updates.

Conclusion

India blocks Telegram to fight exam fraud. Pavel Durov blames Reliance instead. Crypto markets felt the shock through TON's price drop. Yet daily quiz games and mining bots kept running. The real test comes June 21, with NEET re-exams. Until then, India blocks the app stays in force.

YMYL Disclaimer: This piece covers a developing news story involving regulation, technology claims, and crypto market prices. It is not financial, legal, or investment advice. Crypto assets are volatile and carry risk. Always verify current details from official sources before making decisions, and consult a qualified professional for financial or legal guidance.