The Indian authorities has launched an investigation into the social media platform Telegram over issues that it’s getting used for legal actions resembling extortion and playing. The probe follows the arrest of the app’s CEO Pavel Durov in France over the weekend.

Telegram Faces Potential Ban In India

In response to current studies by Indian media shops, the investigation is being led by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre underneath the Ministry of Dwelling Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Data Know-how.

The report notes that Telegram boasts over 5 million registered customers in India, making it one of many nation’s most generally used messaging platforms. 

Nevertheless, the federal government’s issues stem from allegations that the app’s peer-to-peer communication options have been allegedly exploited by “dangerous actors to facilitate illicit actions.”

The truth that Telegram doesn’t have an workplace in India is reportedly complicating the federal government’s efforts to control and examine the platform, regardless of the app’s compliance with India’s Data Know-how (IT) Guidelines.

Studies recommend that the app may even face a possible ban in India relying on the findings of the investigation.

Durov Accused Of Permitting Felony Actions

The investigation in India has taken on added significance following the detention of Durov on the Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday, as reported by Bitcoinist. 

Durov, who holds citizenships in Russia, France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and St. Kitts and Nevis, is reportedly being accused of failing to curb legal actions on his platform within the European nation.

The French authorities have advised that Telegram’s encryption instruments have allowed criminals to “flourish” on the app. Nevertheless, Telegram has pushed again, insisting that the corporate complies with European Union (EU) legal guidelines and content-moderation insurance policies, and calling the claims “absurd.”

The arrest has reportedly sparked a backlash from Russian politicians, with some suggesting that it could possibly be “politically motivated.” Russia’s prime human rights official, Tatyana Moskalkova, claimed that French authorities arrested Durov as a result of they need to shut down the censorship-free platform.

Toncoin (TON) Worth Tumbles

Amid these mounting authorized troubles for the messaging app, Toncoin (TON), the cryptocurrency initially developed by Telegram, has seen losses of over 20% within the seven-day time-frame and is presently buying and selling at $5.39. 

Nevertheless, in a 24-hour time-frame, the token has additionally seen a worth drop of practically 8%, additional demonstrating the bearish sentiment surrounding the TON worth amongst buyers after the information broke over the weekend. 

CoinGecko knowledge additionally exhibits that the token has additionally seen a 66% drop in buying and selling quantity and a 34% hole from its all-time excessive reached in June this yr. 

Featured picture from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com