Delhi police registers FIR over leak of Gen. Naravane’s unpublished memoir amid political turmoil

The storm over an unpublished memoir by former Chief of Army Staff General (Retd.) Manoj Mukund Naravane intensified after the Delhi Police registered an FIR into the alleged circulation of its contents across social media and online platforms, according to an official statement.

The police action came within hours of India Today reporting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had accessed what was described as a pre-publication manuscript of the former army chief’s book — material that was never meant to enter the public domain without mandatory clearance from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Amid the growing controversy, Penguin Random House India (PRHI) stepped in to clarify that it holds the exclusive publishing rights to Naravane’s memoir, Four Stars of Destiny, and that the book has not yet been published. The publisher’s statement followed reports of unauthorised copies of the manuscript circulating online, further fuelling concerns over a possible breach.

The episode has unfolded against the backdrop of fierce political sparring, with defence minister Rajnath Singh earlier telling Parliament that the book “does not exist”. In its statement, the Delhi Police said it had taken cognisance of information suggesting that a pre-print version of Four Stars of Destiny was being shared without approval from competent authorities. Investigators noted that the requisite clearances for publication were still pending.

“Upon verification, it was found that a PDF copy of a type-set book with the same title, apparently prepared by M/s Penguin Random House India Pvt Ltd, is available on certain websites,” the police said. It added that some online marketing platforms were displaying the finished book cover, creating the impression that the memoir was already available for purchase.

Terming the matter a serious breach, police said the case had been registered with the Special Cell to facilitate a comprehensive investigation into the alleged leak or unauthorised circulation of a publication that has not received official approval. The probe, officials said, is underway.

The controversy has spilled dramatically into the political arena. Rahul Gandhi was seen last week flashing what he claimed was a copy of the book within the Parliament complex, setting off a political firestorm. The fallout included repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha and culminated in the suspension of eight MPs for the remainder of the ongoing Budget session.

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi sharpened his attack, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided the Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address out of fear that questions surrounding General Naravane’s memoir would dominate the debate.

As investigators work to trace the origins of the purported leak, the episode continues to echo across both political and security circles, raising uneasy questions about information control, institutional clearances, and the increasingly blurred lines between unpublished, state-linked material and the public domain.