Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has alleged that the disruption impacting access to the messaging application is a result of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking. He describes this technique as a “rogue method” where internet traffic is misdirected by falsely advertising routes to various websites or online services. Durov indicated that this incident was not limited to India, affecting users even in the United Arab Emirates, a region not influenced by India’s regulatory directives.

According to Durov, this situation is indicative of a broader “competitive war,” asserting that Reliance, which partially has ties to Meta, the parent organisation of WhatsApp, is involved. He suggested that this alleged action is targeting Telegram specifically, aiming to undermine its availability for users beyond Indian borders.

In a statement on the social media platform X, Durov highlighted the seriousness of what he claimed were deliberate attempts to sabotage Telegram’s access, stating that Reliance had repeatedly overlooked numerous reports concerning the issue.

Reliance Jio’s Response to the Accusations

In response to Durov’s allegations, Reliance Jio Infocomm strongly denied any connection to the purported BGP hijacking incident. On June 18, the company issued a clarification asserting its non-involvement in any such actions and dismissed the speculation surrounding BGP route misconfiguration, which had been circulating in various online forums.

Reliance Jio argued that it operates its network by adhering to global internet routing best practices, ensuring high standards of security, reliability, and transparency. This statement underscores their commitment to maintaining operational integrity in light of the allegations.

The company further stated that the network identified by Durov in his allegations does not belong to Reliance Jio but is instead linked to Reliance Communications, which has been an area of confusion stemming from public internet routing databases. They reiterated their position, stating that they are not responsible for any disruptions reported by Durov.

Context of the Allegations and Government Actions

The backdrop of this dispute is heightened by recent government actions concerning Telegram in India. As of June 16, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has enforced a temporary block on Telegram, set to last until June 22, following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA). This order was prompted by allegations that specific Telegram channels were being exploited to circulate claims regarding leaked examination papers related to the NEET exam.

The NTA reported that several channels involved were soliciting monetary exchanges from students and parents for purported access to these supposed leakages. In addition, the Indian government has instructed Telegram to disable its message-editing feature until June 30 to prevent the spread of potential misinformation.

The situation is further complicated by the ongoing tensions between the app’s founder and Reliance, alongside the government’s measures surrounding social media management. The public discourse continues to evolve amid these significant allegations of cyber misconduct and the procedural responses taken by telecom entities and governmental bodies alike.

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