Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s law enforcement agencies have concluded that the encrypted messaging platform Telegram is increasingly being misused for money laundering activities, prompting the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers to initiate action for a potential ban.
During a high-level meeting on removing Nepal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deepak Thapa raised alarm over the role Telegram is playing in facilitating financial crimes. According to police sources, IGP Thapa informed officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home Affairs, and other concerned authorities about recent cases where Telegram was used as a tool to launder illicit funds.
“He has repeatedly briefed the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Communication and Information Technology about this issue. Several official correspondences have been sent urging the need to shut down Telegram in Nepal,” said a senior police official familiar with the matter.
Following the police findings, the Office of the Prime Minister has formally written to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, asking it to take immediate steps to ban the platform. “We received an official letter from the Prime Minister’s Office,” said Gajendra Kumar Thakur, spokesperson of the Ministry. “A final decision on this matter may come by Sunday.”
Telegram has been criticized globally for its lack of transparency and cooperation with law enforcement agencies. Nepali authorities have pointed out that the platform fails to share user data when requested and does not provide adequate support during investigations into financial crimes.
“The lack of data access and end-to-end encryption have made it a safe haven for money launderers,” a senior police officer said. “Telegram has been used in Nepal to bypass banking channels and conduct illegal cross-border financial transactions.”
Adding to the concern, officials highlighted that Telegram is already banned in countries like China due to similar issues related to national security and untraceable communication.
With Nepal striving to tighten its financial surveillance system and exit the grey list of FATF, this move could be a significant step toward curbing digital financial crimes. However, the government’s decision to ban Telegram may also spark debates on digital rights, freedom of expression, and the effectiveness of blanket bans on platforms in curbing cybercrime.
As the government considers technical and legal feasibility, security experts are urging that a broader digital governance policy be implemented, ensuring both data privacy and security against emerging financial threats in Nepal’s digital economy.
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