NEET row: Centre tells Delhi HC Telegram channels shared paper leak info; app was repeatedly contacted

In a significant move, the Indian government defended its decision to temporarily block access to Telegram in front of the Delhi High Court, citing the platform's role in disseminating information related to alleged paper leaks ahead of the NEET re-examination. The Centre reported that various Telegram channels were identified as sources of this troubling information, leading to the issuance of blocking orders after multiple attempts to engage with the company. Authorities stated that they had reached out to Telegram on several occasions to address their concerns but found that the problems persisted. As a result, the government determined that temporary restrictions were necessary to prevent organized fraud and protect students from extortion, emphasizing that this action was not intended to silence discussions about the paper leak issue. The original NEET examination was canceled in May due to claims of advance paper leaks. Reports indicated that leaked materials were being shared through specific Telegram channels. In response, Telegram has challenged the government's restriction in the Delhi High Court. Pavel Durov, the platform's founder and CEO, criticized the week-long ban, arguing that it punishes 150 million ordinary users in India while failing to address the real culprits behind the leaks. The government characterized the restrictions as "targeted, time-bound, and specifically related to the NEET re-exam period." The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology announced that access to Telegram would be limited until the day of the retest, while some functionalities would remain restricted until the end of June. Central officials expressed that their main concern was not just misinformation, but rather the existence of a fraud ecosystem on the platform. They reported that channels with names like "Paper Leaked NEET" and "Re-NEET 2026" were allegedly soliciting payments from students, with claims of having access to leaked exam papers ranging from ₹14,000 to several lakhs. Moreover, the government argued that Telegram's message-editing feature could allow users to alter posts while maintaining their original timestamps, potentially misleading individuals into thinking that the exam papers had been leaked prior to the examination. Officials also noted that Telegram lacks a registered office and grievance redressal system in India, complicating timely cooperation with law enforcement. Finally, the Centre referenced international examples of countries that have imposed similar restrictions on online platforms during examination periods, asserting that India's actions are more limited in scope and duration compared to those taken by other nations.