Police Probe Naravane Memoir Leak

The Special Cell of Delhi Police has served a notice to Penguin Random House India after an unpublished memoir by former Army chief Manoj Mukund Naravane reportedly surfaced in the public domain without official approval.

Investigators are seeking details on how the manuscript, intended for later release, appeared both digitally and in physical form. A case has been registered under charges, including criminal conspiracy, with authorities examining whether the circulation was part of a coordinated effort.

Officials suspect that hardcover copies bearing the publisher’s logo may have reached select individuals before publication. The police are also preparing to contact social media companies, including Meta Platforms, to trace how excerpts were uploaded and shared online.

The controversy intensified after the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, referenced portions of the memoir in the Lok Sabha earlier this month. He was prevented from quoting the text by Speaker Om Birla, triggering protests from opposition members. Gandhi later displayed what he claimed was a copy of the book within Parliament premises while criticising the government’s handling of the border dispute with China.

Titled Four Stars of Destiny, the memoir had been scheduled for publication in January 2024, with excerpts appearing in media reports the previous month. Around that period, Naravane had also shared a pre-order link, suggesting the book was forthcoming.

In response to the row, the publisher asserted that it holds exclusive rights to the memoir and clarified that no print or digital editions have been released, distributed, or sold. It warned that any version currently circulating would constitute copyright infringement.

Police earlier noted that a typeset PDF matching the book’s title was found on certain websites, while some online platforms allegedly displayed a finished cover as though the book were already available for purchase. The investigation is ongoing to determine responsibility for the premature circulation.