Delhi Police register FIR over circulation of unpublished memoir by ex-army chief MM Naravane

The book, titled Four Stars of Destiny, is alleged to have been shared and promoted online without mandatory clearance from the competent authorities.

NDTV, quoting police sources, reported that the matter came to light following alerts about social media posts and online listings suggesting that the book was already available to readers.

A preliminary verification found that a PDF copy of a typeset manuscript bearing the same title was accessible on certain websites.

The document appears to have been prepared by Penguin Random House India Pvt. Ltd., though officials said its authenticity is yet to be confirmed.

Investigators also noted that some online marketing and retail platforms had displayed the book’s cover in a manner indicating it was available for purchase, despite no official release or clearance.

Authorities are treating the issue seriously, citing the possibility of unauthorised dissemination of material linked to a publication pending approval.

Potential copyright violations, illegal distribution, and procedural lapses are among the aspects being examined.

Given the sensitivity of the case, the investigation has been handed over to the Special Cell of Delhi Police.

Teams will work to trace the origin of the alleged leak, identify those responsible for uploading or circulating the material, and determine how the manuscript reached public platforms before receiving clearance.

Political row over book

The FIR comes amid a political controversy triggered last week when Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was seen displaying a purported copy of the book within the Parliament complex.

Rahul Gandhi was subsequently disallowed by the Chair from quoting an article reportedly based on excerpts from the unpublished memoir, which allegedly contains references to the 2020 India-China border clash.

The issue led to repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha and the suspension of eight Members of Parliament for the remainder of the Budget session.

“The government did not want me to talk about it, so they stalled the House. They did not let me speak. That happened three to four times,” Gandhi had said, alleging that he was blocked from referring to both the book and a magazine article linked to it.

Police said further action will be taken based on the findings of the ongoing investigation.