Nepal may ban Telegram over rising online fraud and money laundering

The Nepal government has initiated steps to investigate and potentially ban the messaging app Telegram, citing its growing use in fraud and money laundering activities. A high-level coordination committee under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers is leading the effort, following increasing concerns over the platform’s misuse.

Telegram under scrutiny for criminal activity

According to sources, the National Coordination Committee for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing has formally written to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, urging it to take action against Telegram. The letter was sent on Thursday.

Gajendra Kumar Thakur, spokesperson for the Ministry of Communication, confirmed that the ministry had received the letter. However, he clarified that an immediate ban is not yet planned. “The letter has asked us to investigate whether Telegram is being used for money laundering activities. Based on the findings, a decision will be made,” Thakur told the press. He added that they will seek information from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation, Nepal Police, and other concerned agencies.

Police briefing raises alarm

During a recent meeting of the coordination committee, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deepak Thapa informed members that criminal activities including online fraud are increasing through Telegram, and many are linked to money laundering operations. According to Thapa, “Most of the major online crimes we are seeing today are being coordinated via Telegram. It is even connected to many fraud cases happening within Nepal.”

The Ministry is expected to take a decision possibly by Sunday, as per sources close to the matter.

Structure of the coordination committee

This high-level committee is chaired by the Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office and includes senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Law, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Attorney General, and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Additionally, the Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, the Chief of Nepal Police, and the Head of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation are also members.

Past incidents involving Telegram

Telegram has already been linked to several major criminal incidents in Nepal and internationally. In Poush 2081 (December 2024–January 2025), the app was reportedly used in a high-profile hacking case where Rs 35 million was stolen from Citizens Bank by compromising the F1Soft payment system. It was later revealed that the hackers had lured unemployed youth via Telegram and used them to carry out the crime.

Moreover, Telegram has been suspected of being used for drug trafficking, and law enforcement agencies believe it continues to serve as a platform for illegal dealings, with almost no regulatory oversight.

International concerns and founder’s arrest

Globally, Telegram’s founder and CEO Pavel Durov was arrested in France in September 2024, facing charges related to illegal transactions, drug trafficking, online fraud, and distribution of child abuse materials via Telegram. Though he was released on bail, his arrest sparked widespread discussions about the platform’s lack of regulation and the need for tighter global controls.

Some analysts and cybercrime experts have even described Telegram as a “dark web in everyone’s pocket”, given its encryption, anonymity, and untraceable channels. The app allows users to operate in secrecy, which makes it a favorite among cybercriminals.

Past warnings ignored

According to a senior officer from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, the idea of banning or regulating Telegram was raised during past internal meetings as well. “We had proposed taking action before, but it didn’t move forward. If this time the government is seriously considering it, then it’s a positive step,” the officer said.

As of now, no final decision has been made, but the government is seriously considering how to address Telegram’s role in enabling online crimes in Nepal.