India Orders Telegram Block for NEET Rerun Despite Platform's Removal of 900+ Links

The order required Telegram to disable nationwide access and its message-editing feature through June after the May NEET-UG exam was scrapped over paper leaks affecting two million candidates. Officials claimed scammers used the edit function to post fake questions then swap in real ones post-exam. Telegram's court filing states it had already removed hundreds of channels distributing leaks and scams, yet received no hearing before the block.

Court documents and Durov's statements reveal the platform argued targeted removals were feasible and less restrictive than punishing 150 million users. The petition notes selective enforcement against Telegram while competitors remain untouched, violating equality provisions. This fits a documented pattern where Indian authorities default to full blocks rather than granular content controls seen in prior social media orders.

Independent reporting shows leaks migrated to other apps immediately after the ban, confirming Durov's assessment that the measure fails to address insider sources. Procurement and regulatory records indicate repeated reliance on broad platform restrictions without published metrics on effectiveness or due process.

The Delhi High Court hearing is scheduled next week. Expect further challenges if the order expands to additional platforms without technical attribution of leaks.