Telegram's Pavel Durov probed for 'serious' violence against his child in France, source says

PARIS - Pavel Durov, the founder and chief of Telegram, who was

arrested in France

on charges of failing to curb illegal content on the app, is also being investigated on suspicion of “serious acts of violence” against one of his children, a source close to the case said on Aug 28.

The probe, opened recently by the French child welfare office, concerns Mr Durov’s son, born in 2017, who is now living in Switzerland with his mother having previously been enrolled in a French school.

The alleged violence happened in Paris, the source said.

Russian-born Mr Durov, 39, arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris late on Aug 24, was to appear in court on Aug 28 facing possible charges over 12 offences relating to his management of Telegram.

The boy’s mother had filed a legal complaint in Switzerland in 2023, accusing her former partner of violent acts against their son, the source said. AFP