The Central government on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that Telegram is being increasingly used for several illegal activities, including terrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, child exploitation, financial fraud, and the circulation of extremist content. During court proceedings, the government described the messaging platform as a “new dark web” and argued that it has become a preferred tool for criminals and threat actors because of its privacy features and difficulty in tracing users.

The submissions were made during a hearing related to Telegram’s challenge against the Centre’s decision to temporarily block the platform in India ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21. After hearing arguments from both Telegram and the government, a vacation bench of Justice Tejas Karia reserved its order on the matter.

The Centre informed the court that Telegram has emerged as a major channel through which criminals connect users to dark web forums and deep web networks. According to the government, this makes it difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify offenders and establish accountability for illegal activities carried out through the platform.

“Telegram has become the new dark web, linking threat actors. Criminals have rapidly adopted Telegram to post links on channels that connect to dark web forums through deep web links, making it hard for authorities to track and attribute criminals,” the Centre said.

The government further stated that Telegram is being misused across several categories of cyber-enabled crimes. It argued that the platform’s privacy-focused features have made it attractive for individuals and groups involved in unlawful activities.

“It has been observed that Telegram is being exploited for illegal activities including drug trafficking, cybercrime, extremism, terrorism, child exploitation, and cyber scams and frauds, primarily due to privacy features,” the Centre submitted.

Apart from cybercrime and fraud, the government also expressed concern about the spread of extremist and radical content through Telegram channels and groups. It alleged that individuals and organisations linked to terrorist groups are using the platform to circulate violent propaganda, misinformation, and content aimed at disturbing public order.

“Extremist violent acts performed by terror organisations and other radical content is being propagated by telegram groups and channels by the entities which are associated with terrorist organisations to create misinformation or have the intention to destabilise public order,” it said.

The Centre also highlighted the issue of child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM). It told the court that such content is being shared through Telegram groups and channels in violation of Indian laws. The government argued that the availability of such material on the platform remains a serious concern for authorities.

Another issue raised by the Centre was online piracy. According to its submissions, a large number of Telegram channels are found to be involved in distributing pirated movies, web series, and other copyrighted content. The government said that this resulted in financial losses for creators and companies and even brazenly violated intellectual property rights.

On the issue of cybercrime, the Centre stated that Telegram’s anonymity features are being used by criminals to conceal their identities and conduct various financial frauds. It said cybercriminals frequently create fake accounts using false identities and use them to run scams and other illegal operations.

“Cybercriminals create fake accounts using false identities, which are used to carry out various financial crimes and scams, publish data breaches on Telegram groups/channels,” it said.

The government further told the court that hacker groups and cyber threat actors use Telegram to coordinate attacks, communicate with each other, and publish stolen information. It also claimed that the platform facilitates the sale and circulation of mule bank accounts that are later used in financial crimes.

According to the Centre, Telegram channels are also being used to exploit India’s financial ecosystem. This includes misuse of banking services, fintech platforms, UPI handles, and cryptocurrency off-ramps for layering and laundering illegal funds. Authorities argued that such activities pose a significant risk to financial security and law enforcement efforts.

The government additionally claimed that Telegram bots are being used to access and circulate leaked personal information. This includes mobile numbers, Aadhaar details, and other sensitive data that may have been obtained through previous data breaches. The Centre said the widespread availability of such information can lead to identity theft, fraud, and other forms of cybercrime.

The case reached the Delhi High Court after Telegram challenged the Centre’s temporary blocking order. The government restricted access to the messaging platform in India until June 22 as a precautionary measure before the NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination.

According to the Centre, the decision was taken following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA). The agency argued that the restriction was necessary during the examination period and immediately after it to prevent any attempt to leak, manipulate, or spread false examination material.

The government also directed Telegram to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30. The NTA informed authorities that the feature had allegedly been misused in the past to create false claims of paper leaks. It said administrators could edit older messages and replace attached files while retaining the original timestamp, creating the impression that examination papers had been shared before the exam took place.

Telegram has remained under scrutiny in connection with the NEET UG 2026 paper leak controversy. Several Telegram channels had allegedly claimed to provide access to examination papers and other confidential material in exchange for money. These claims prompted investigations by authorities and raised concerns about the platform’s role in the spread of misleading information and examination-related fraud.

With the hearing concluded, all eyes are now on the Delhi High Court’s decision on Telegram’s plea against the temporary restrictions imposed by the Centre.