Delhi Police Register FIR After Ex-Army Chief’s Unpublished Book Sparks Parliament Row

Delhi Police on Monday registered an FIR over the alleged leak and unauthorised circulation of a pre-publication copy of Four Stars of Destiny.

The memoir of former Army Chief General Manoj Naravane, after reports suggested the book was being shared online without mandatory official clearances. Police said they took cognisance of information circulating on social media platforms and news forums claiming that a pre-print version of the memoir was publicly available even though approval for its publication had not yet been granted by the competent authorities.

During verification, investigators found a PDF file of a typeset book bearing the same title on certain websites. The document appeared to have been prepared by the publisher, Penguin Random House India Pvt. Ltd. Officials also noted that some online marketing platforms were displaying the finished book cover, suggesting that the title was available for sale.

In view of the suspected breach and unauthorised circulation of an unpublished work, Delhi Police said a case has been registered with the Special Cell. A detailed investigation is underway to trace the source of the leak and determine the extent of the violation.

Four Stars of Destiny

Four Stars of Destiny chronicles nearly four decades of General Naravane’s service in the Indian Army, detailing his journey from a Second Lieutenant to Chief of the Army Staff. The memoir reportedly offers insights into several key episodes of his career, including India’s most serious military standoff with China since the 1962 conflict. Penguin Random House India is the publisher of the book.

Parliament Row

The controversy over the memoir spilled into Parliament during the post-Budget session. Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was preparing to move the Motion of Thanks on the Union Budget after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi read out portions of a magazine article purportedly based on General Naravane’s unpublished memoir.

Although Gandhi spoke briefly, his remarks triggered sharp reactions from the BJP leadership. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh accused the Leader of the Opposition of citing material from an unpublished book.