A government report says India is proactively monitoring Telegram groups and channels used by cybercriminals for scams and sharing illegal content.
The scrutiny seems to be increasing for Telegram. A government investigation has found that the instant messaging app is being widely used to share child sexual abuse content and carry out financial scams, according to Reuters. The findings were reportedly prepared by the Home Ministry’s Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which was submitted to a court in June as part of the government’s defence of a temporary ban on Pavel Durov’s platform.
Report Submitted During Court Case
As per Reuters, a 35-page report was presented in court after the government imposed a one-week ban on Telegram following allegations that a question paper for NEET examination had been leaked through the app.
The report notes that officials have been monitoring Telegram groups and channels that are suspected of being involved in cybercrime. Moreover, the report also highlights that criminals often use private and closed groups to coordinate illegal activities and target victims.
Notably, the report stressed that officials found multiple Telegram groups sharing the content related to the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. It also reportedly identified groups promoting fake job opportunities and other online fraud schemes.
Between January and May 2026, authorities have received 1,556 complaints linked to the use of Telegram, as per the report. More than 6,88,000 complaints have been recorded related to Telegram-linked cyber fraud since 2023, adds the report.
The report said, “Cyber criminals use Telegram to access closed groups/channels … (India) is proactively monitoring such Telegram groups and channels.”
Notably, the Indian investigation is the latest in a series of regulatory enforcement actions against the platform across different countries. The French government also launched an investigation against Telegram in 2024 into the alleged use by organised crime groups. Similarly, the platform faced backlash in South Korea the same year over the spread of sexually explicit deepfake images.
Spain had also temporarily suspended the Telegram in 2024 amid concerns related to the copyright violations.
