A messaging app, a telecom giant, and an accusation involving the literal infrastructure of the internet — this story has layers.
Just when the Telegram-India saga seemed like a routine compliance story, founder Pavel Durov dropped a bombshell that turned it into a full-blown global internet controversy. The claim? Reliance is allegedly disrupting Telegram access for millions of users outside India through a technique called BGP hijacking.
Here’s everything you need to know, broken down simply.
Table of Contents
The Claims at a Glance
| Claim | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who’s accusing | Pavel Durov, Telegram founder & CEO |
| Who’s accused | Reliance Jio (AS18101) |
| Alleged method | BGP hijacking |
| Affected region | Users outside India, including the UAE |
| Motive suggested | Competitive sabotage (Meta ties) |
| Durov’s ask | Network operators reject Reliance’s BGP routes |
| Evidence provided | None published publicly |
| India’s Telegram ban | June 16–22, 2026 (NEET-UG re-exam) |
What Did Pavel Durov Actually Say?
In a post on X, Pavel Durov wrote that “Indian telecom Reliance is sabotaging access to Telegram for millions of users OUTSIDE India (including the UAE) via a rogue method called BGP hijacking,” adding that “the sabotage seems intentional,” as Reliance had allegedly ignored multiple reports.
He went further, advising network operators worldwide to reject unauthorised BGP announcements from Reliance’s AS18101 to prevent route hijacks and ensure stable internet access.
And then came the real spice: Durov suggested the disruption could be linked to competition, pointing out that Meta — owner of WhatsApp — holds investments in Reliance, and said he “wouldn’t be surprised if Reliance/WhatsApp were also behind the recent lobbying effort to ban Telegram in India.”
What Is BGP Hijacking, Actually?
Think of BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) as the internet’s GPS — it’s the system that connects networks and finds the best path for data to reach its destination, like Telegram’s servers. “Hijacking” it means falsely announcing ownership of IP address ranges to reroute or block traffic. It’s a real and serious internet vulnerability — but proving who did it requires technical evidence, not just a tweet.
For more on how global platforms navigate Indian regulatory pressure, see our coverage on Big Tech vs Indian telecom policy.
Important Context Durov Left Out
A few things matter here. Independent monitors that track route hijacks had not publicly corroborated Durov’s claim as of writing — making this a founder-level accusation rather than an established fact.
Also, the ownership framing is misleading: Meta does not own a stake in Reliance Industries. Through its subsidiary Jaadhu Holdings, Meta holds only a minority position in Jio. It’s the reverse of what Durov implied.
Why Was Telegram Banned in India Anyway?
India temporarily restricted Telegram until June 22 to protect the integrity of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, invoking Section 69A of the IT Act after the National Testing Agency flagged organised cheating rackets allegedly using the app to circulate fake leaked papers.
Pavel Durov had separately criticised this, arguing the ban punished over 150 million ordinary Indian users while leaks simply moved to other apps.
The Bottom Line
This story now has two separate threads: a domestic ban tied to exam fraud, and an unproven international sabotage claim aimed at one of India’s biggest corporations. Until independent network analysts verify the BGP allegations, it’s a serious accusation — not a confirmed fact. Worth watching closely as Reliance, Meta, and Telegram all stay conspicuously quiet.
Sources: Business Today | CryptoTimes | BestMediaInfo
