Telegram CEO accuses Reliance of BGP hijacking in 'competitive war'

Key Takeaways

• Telegram CEO Pavel Durov accuses Reliance of intentionally disrupting Telegram access for users outside India using BGP hijacking
• The allegation comes as India blocks Telegram until June 22 to prevent NEET exam paper leaks
• Durov suggests the sabotage may be competitive retaliation linked to Meta's partnership with Reliance

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has publicly accused Mukesh Ambani's Reliance of using BGP hijacking to disrupt access to the messaging app for users outside India. The allegation, posted on X on Tuesday, claims the sabotage affects millions of users including those in the UAE and appears deliberate because Reliance has ignored multiple reports.

This sharp escalation comes days after India's National Testing Agency ordered a nationwide block on Telegram until June 22 to protect the integrity of the NEET undergraduate medical entrance re-examination scheduled for June 21. Durov frames the entire situation as part of a broader competitive war, pointing to Meta's recent AI data center partnership with Reliance as evidence of shared interests between WhatsApp's parent company and the Indian telecom giant.

What is BGP hijacking and why does Durov's claim matter?

Border Gateway Protocol hijacking occurs when a network operator announces false routing information, redirecting internet traffic through unauthorized paths. When executed maliciously, it can intercept data, disrupt services, or effectively block access to specific platforms. Durov's accusation suggests Reliance is broadcasting rogue BGP announcements that misdirect Telegram traffic globally.

In his post, Durov urged network operators worldwide to reject unauthorized BGP announcements from Reliance's autonomous system number (AS18101) to prevent route hijacks. This is not a casual technical complaint. BGP hijacking at scale can undermine internet routing stability for networks far beyond the targeted service.

“Indian telecom Reliance is sabotaging access to Telegram for millions of users OUTSIDE India... this may be part of a competitive war.”

— Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram

Why did India block Telegram before the NEET exam?

The ban traces back to the NEET exam held on May 3, which was cancelled after paper leak concerns emerged. Ahead of the re-examination, the NTA issued a statement on June 16 exposing what it called a large-scale Telegram-based fraud and misinformation operation targeting NEET candidates.

According to NTA Director General Abhishek Singh, scammers were running two distinct rackets. Some channels demanded payments ranging from Rs 14,000 to Rs 10 lakh, falsely claiming access to the re-exam paper. Others posted fabricated "proof" videos showing chats that appeared to be from before the exam but were actually created using Telegram's message-editing feature.

The NTA specifically criticized Telegram's edit function, which allows channel operators to modify old messages while preserving the original timestamp. A message edited on June 4 can appear as if it was sent on June 1, making it trivially easy to fabricate evidence of leaks after an exam concludes. Indian authorities have directed Telegram to disable this feature until June 30.

Durov's competitive war theory: Meta, Reliance, and WhatsApp

Durov's most provocative claim is that this is not about exam integrity at all. He points to Reliance's partial ownership by Meta and suggests the BGP hijacking is designed to benefit WhatsApp, Telegram's primary competitor in India. Meta and Reliance have deepened their ties through a recent AI-enabled data center deal, and WhatsApp dominates Indian messaging with over 500 million users.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Reliance/WhatsApp were also behind the recent lobbying effort to ban Telegram in India," Durov wrote. He argues the ban punishes over 150 million ordinary Telegram users instead of targeting the insiders who actually leaked exam materials. He also claims the leaks have simply moved to other apps, making the block ineffective.

This is a serious allegation without public evidence. BGP misconfigurations happen frequently by accident, and distinguishing intentional hijacking from routing errors requires detailed technical analysis. Durov has not shared logs or third-party verification of his claims. Reliance has not publicly responded.

The technical debate: sabotage or misconfiguration?

Online discussions have split sharply on whether Durov's accusations hold water. Hacker News threads have debated whether BGP hijacking on this scale could plausibly be intentional sabotage versus a routine misconfiguration that Reliance has been slow to fix. Major telecoms occasionally broadcast incorrect routes, and fixing these errors can take days even without malicious intent.

The fact that users in the UAE and other countries outside India report disruptions lends some credibility to the claim that something beyond the official Indian block is occurring. But proving intent is another matter entirely. Without public routing data and analysis from neutral observers, Durov's claims remain allegations.

What happens after June 22?

The current block order expires on June 22, one day after the NEET re-examination. Whether India will lift restrictions or extend them depends on several factors: whether leaks occur during the re-test, how Telegram responds to demands about disabling message editing, and the political appetite for prolonged confrontation with a platform used by 150 million Indians.

Durov's decision to escalate publicly, framing this as corporate sabotage rather than a policy dispute, raises the stakes. If Reliance or the Indian government views his statements as inflammatory, the regulatory environment for Telegram in India could worsen. On the other hand, drawing international attention to alleged BGP manipulation puts pressure on Reliance to address the technical complaints, regardless of intent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BGP hijacking and how does it work?

BGP hijacking occurs when a network operator broadcasts false routing information, causing internet traffic to flow through unauthorized paths. This can disrupt access to services or intercept data.

Why was Telegram banned in India before the NEET exam?

India's National Testing Agency ordered the block after uncovering Telegram-based scam operations selling fake exam papers and using message editing to fabricate evidence of leaks.

How many Telegram users are affected by the India ban?

Telegram has over 150 million users in India who cannot access the app until the block expires on June 22, 2026.

What is the connection between Reliance and Meta that Durov mentioned?

Meta owns a stake in Reliance's Jio Platforms and the two companies recently partnered on an AI-enabled data center. Durov suggests this creates competitive motivation to harm Telegram and benefit WhatsApp.

Has Reliance responded to Durov's BGP hijacking accusations?

As of now, Reliance has not publicly addressed Durov's claims about intentional BGP hijacking.

Source: mint / Fareha Naaz