Arrest of Telegram CEO puts dent in company's future plans

CEO Durov has come under increased pressure to monetise the platform, with the arrest certain to complicate these matters further

Pavel Durov, chief executive officer of Telegram. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Telegram, the popular app founded by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov is known widely for its laissez-faire approach to online communication and has attracted more than 950 million users since its establishment in 2013. 

The app has become one of the world's largest online communication tools and is a major platform for several countries including Russia, India, Germany and Ukraine.