Telegram challenges India ban over exam paper leak fears

Telegram has taken the Indian government to court over its decision to temporarily ban the messaging platform days before millions of students retake a crucial medical entrance examination.

The company challenged the decision on Wednesday, a day after officials blocked access to the app over concerns it had been used to distribute leaked exam papers.

The government says the move will protect the integrity of the exam, which is due to be held again on Sunday after last month's test was cancelled over allegations of a paper leak .

But Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has called the ban a "mistake", arguing it would punish millions of users while doing little to stop those responsible for the leaks.

Lawyers for the company mentioned the matter before the Delhi High Court on Wednesday, legal website Live Law reported. The judge has agreed to hear the case later in the day.

The development comes after Durov wrote a post on X criticising the ban and arguing that it would not "stop anything", as those responsible for the leak would have already moved to other apps.

Calling Telegram a "force for good", he said the platform had "removed hundreds of channels sharing leaked exam materials and related scams in India" in recent weeks.

He added that Telegram was making its "edited" label more prominent to help prevent backdating scams.