New Delhi: Messaging platform Telegram has issued a statement denying allegations of non-cooperation with Nepali authorities, following reports that the app has been banned in Nepal due to concerns over rising online fraud and alleged involvement in money laundering.

In an official statement released on Saturday, Telegram said it was surprised by the Nepal government's decision to block access to the app and maintained that it has responded to all legal requests made by Nepali authorities.

“Telegram is surprised by these statements. We have consistently responded to Nepal's legal requests. Telegram actively moderates harmful content on its platform and removes fraud and money laundering whenever discovered,” the company stated.

Ban ordered over online fraud

On Friday afternoon, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) issued a notice directing all telecommunication service providers to block Telegram with immediate effect. The notice cited a rise in online fraud cases associated with the app.

“As the number of online frauds through the Telegram App operating in Nepal is continuously increasing, and it has been understood that there is involvement in serious crimes such as money laundering, all relevant telecommunication service providers have been directed through this notice to immediately block/close access to the Telegram App,” the one-line notice stated.

However, the NTA did not elaborate on specific incidents or the number of cases that led to the decision.

Rising scrutiny after cybersecurity incident

Last year, Nepal witnessed a hacking incident involving F1 Soft, a widely used online transaction platform by Nepali banks. During the investigation, the use of Telegram for communication was discovered, which has reportedly intensified scrutiny of the app within the country.

Internet usage in Nepal

Nepal, with a population of under 30 million, has seen growing internet use. According to government data, 16.5 million individuals were using the internet in the country at the beginning of 2025, bringing internet penetration to 55.8 per cent.

Telegram clarifies global standing

Telegram also addressed broader claims regarding its global operations, noting that the platform had recently been unblocked in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology had previously issued a ban in May 2025.

Refuting concerns about its data security and global reputation, the company stated, “Telegram's security is provably secure using its open-source apps and fully documented encryption protocols. To date, no viable means of breaking the encryption Telegram uses has ever been found.”

ANI inputs