During the proceedings, the Centre defended the blocking order, asserting that Telegram cannot claim the principle of proportionality if it fails to ensure accountability on its platform.
The government referred to Telegram as a “Frankenstein,” arguing that its architecture presents unique threats for cybercrime. It contended that no other platform has faced similar actions because Telegram’s design facilitates sophisticated criminal networks with little human oversight.
According to the Centre, Telegram has repeatedly failed to implement sufficient measures to prevent the misuse of its services. The government noted that the platform offers bot infrastructure capable of disseminating content and sending bulk messages, which can be abused for activities like sharing leaked examination papers, including those related to the NEET examination.
The Centre also indicated to the court that it would present “shocking” evidence to support the emergency blocking order.
Telegram countered the government’s stance, stating that the order represents “throwing the baby out with the bathwater”.
The company emphasized that the blockage impacts around 150 million legitimate users in India and argued that authorities have the ability to remove specific channels, bots, and content under the Information Technology Rules instead of banning the entire platform.
Telegram further asserted that it had already adhered to government directives to eliminate identified channels tied to the alleged NEET paper leak.
The Dubai-based company is seeking an interim stay on the blocking order, arguing that the government’s actions are disproportionate and significantly affect millions of users.
While the court had previously issued a notice to the Centre and requested its response, it did not provide immediate relief to Telegram.
The platform remains blocked until June 22, a day following the scheduled NEET-UG re-test.
India is Telegram’s largest market, with the company claiming over 150 million users in the country.
In a related development, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the government’s decision in a post on X, arguing that paper leaks have turned into a multi-billion-rupee business benefiting influential interests, and he called for systemic reforms to tackle the underlying issues.
(Edited by : Prashant)
First Published: Jun 18, 2026 5:22 PM IST
