New Delhi: Delhi Police have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) following reports that a pre-print copy of former Army chief General M M Naravane’s unpublished memoir ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ is being circulated online.

Authorities said they acted after social media posts and news forums suggested the manuscript was being shared despite not having received mandatory clearance from the defence ministry. A preliminary verification exercise reportedly revealed that a PDF copy of a typeset manuscript bearing the same title was available on certain websites. The document appeared to have been prepared by Penguin Random House India, as per media reports.

Also Read: PM shirked Ladakh responsibility: Rahul Gandhi on ex-Army chief Gen Naravane's 'hot potato' claim 

Investigators also discovered that some online retail platforms had displayed the book’s cover, presenting it as if it were already available for purchase. Officials stressed that the matter is being treated seriously, citing potential breaches involving unauthorised dissemination, copyright violations, or illegal distribution.

The case has now been handed to the Special Cell of Delhi Police, which will attempt to trace the origin of the leak, identify those responsible for uploading or circulating the manuscript, and establish how the document reached public platforms before clearance.

Political row in Parliament

The controversy comes just days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen holding a purported copy of the book in Parliament. He was prevented by the Chair from quoting from an article based on excerpts of the unpublished memoir, which allegedly contains references to the 2020 India–China border conflict.

The incident sparked uproar in the Lok Sabha, leading to repeated disruptions and the suspension of eight MPs for the remainder of the Budget session.

General Naravane, who served as Army chief from December 2019 to April 2022, has yet to publish ‘Four Stars of Destiny’. Clearance from the defence ministry is still pending due to sensitive material relating to the 2020 Line of Actual Control standoff and the Agnipath recruitment scheme. Neither the publisher, the author, nor the ministry has issued an official statement on the book’s status.