New Delhi, June 17 -- The National Testing Agency (NTA) and IIT Madras on Tuesday justified the temporary restriction on Telegram ahead of the re-NEET examination, citing instances where the platform was allegedly used to fabricate evidence of question paper leaks through edited messages carrying old timestamps.

The Internet Freedom Foundation, however, criticised the government's curbs on Telegram, calling the move a band-aid solution and a "disproportionate" response to exam fraud.

Google has removed messaging app Telegram from the Play Store and Apple is likely to follow suit in compliance with a government order, sources aware of the development said.

Explaining the rationale behind the restrictions on Telegram, NTA Director Genera...