Kathmandu- The government has banned Telegram in Nepal.

Citing that the app has been widely used for illegal activities such as money laundering and online fraud, the government has officially shut down Telegram in Nepal.

Publishing a notice today, the Nepal Telecommunication Authority has directed the internet service providers to immediately block access and shut down their service in Nepal. 

The government has made a preliminary determination that the Telegram application is being misused for money laundering and financial crimes, leading the authorities to issue a notice for its closure. The Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers had also advised shutting down Telegram.

Nepal Police, through investigations related to various recent cases, found that Telegram was being misused for money laundering transactions and other financial crimes.

As a result, the National Coordination Committee on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorist Activities had also written to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology to take further steps regarding Telegram.