PhonePe complains to the High Court: Telegram is causing us financial losses

Madras High Court sent Telegram block and delete channels impersonating PhonePe and redirect payments to scammers. The order comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the Walmart-owned company. digital payments platform PhonePe, alleging that these channels on the messaging platform are causing financial loss to the company and its users. Responding to this, a Telegram lawyer said that the platform cannot detect and block such fakes in advance. However, they assured the court that Telegram would block and delete these channels after receiving complaints from users and PhonePe. The court accepted the plea and ordered Telegram to immediately address any complaints by PhonePe regarding channel impersonation.

What the Madras High Court ruled

In a recent order by Justice K Kumaresh Babu, PhonePe has been directed to notify Telegram of any fake content or copyright violations and provide the URLs of these messages so that Telegram can block them.
The court ruling stated: “Mr. Triyambak J. Kannan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the first respondents/accused submits that it will be difficult for them to block the publication even at the initial stage and submits that as such publications are made, they will submitted to the second defendant’s notice, it will be blocked immediately.
2. The learned counsel appearing on behalf of the applicant/plaintiff also submits that as soon as the matter comes to their notice, they will immediately inform the first respondent through email and the learned counsel appearing on behalf of the first respondent also undertakes to do so as and when the email is received, such posting will be deleted/blocked immediately.
3. Considering the fact that an application has been filed for an interim injunction against the second respondent, the first respondent must also provide the IP address of the URL and channel for which the blocking request has arisen.
4. At the request of the applicant’s lawyer, list the case in two weeks.”