Gen Naravane memoir row: Delhi Police probe finds book entered global markets before govt approval

New Delhi: The Delhi Police's Special Cell has launched a multi-nation investigation into the alleged circulation of the unpublished book of former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s memoir, 'Four Stars of Destiny', on social media.

What has the police done so far?

On Wednesday, The Delhi Police's Special Cell had issued a notice to publisher Penguin Random House India seeking clarifications over the circulation of the book on social media before receiving the mandatory clearance from the Defence Ministry.

The Delhi Police on Tuesday registered an FIR under charges of criminal conspiracy in connection to the leak of a pre-print copy of the book.

What did the Special Cell probe say?

According to the preliminary findings, the investigators have suggested that the leak was not an isolated act of piracy but a “planned and coordinated operation” that bypassed official approval processes meant for defence-related publications.

Was the book circulated internationally before approval?

According to investigators, the book was allegedly made available online in the US, Canada, Australia and Germany prior to Defence official clearance. The leaked version of the memoir was not only circulated internationally but was first made available online in foreign markets. 

According to police sources, "the sequence of uploads, international listings, and ISBN-linked distribution points to an organised breach rather than isolated digital piracy."

“The investigation is examining who facilitated the global circulation of the book before official clearance and whether there was any coordinated effort to push it into foreign markets,” a source said.

What did Penguin say?

Earlier, the Penguin Random House India had issued a statement after the controversy surfaced, saying, “In light of recent public discourse and media reporting, Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army."

In a post on X, wrote, "We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book, in print or digital form, have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India."

“Any copies of the book currently in circulation, in whole or in part, whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, constitute an infringement of PRHI’s copyright and must immediately be ceased. Penguin Random House India shall be exercising remedies available in law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book," the statement said.

What happen in Parliament?

The controversy came in light, after Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi brought a version of the book, what he described as a “pre-print book",  to the Parliament, asking questions from the government during his speech in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address last week.