Penguin Random House India (PRHI), the official publisher of former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane’s memoir Four Stars of Destiny, on Feb 9, issued a firm clarification stating that the book has not been published or released in any form, following the registration of an FIR by the Delhi Police over its alleged unauthorised circulation.
The statement came amid mounting controversy after images of a printed copy of the unpublished memoir being displayed within the Parliament complex surfaced on social media, raising serious questions about how a sensitive, unpublished manuscript entered public circulation.
In its official statement, Penguin Random House India categorically denied having released the memoir, emphasising that it holds the exclusive publishing rights to the book.
“We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book, whether in print or digital form, have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India,” the publisher stated.
The publishing house further warned that any version currently circulating, whether in part or full, constitutes a direct infringement of its copyright.
“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, constitutes an infringement of PRHI’s copyright and must immediately be ceased,” the statement added.
Taking a firm stance, Penguin Random House India made it clear that it would not treat the matter lightly and would pursue all available legal remedies against those involved in the unauthorised dissemination.
“Penguin Random House India shall be exercising remedies available in law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book. This statement is being issued to place the publisher’s position on record,” the company said.
The clarification follows an FIR filed by the Delhi Police after reports emerged that a pre-publication version of Four Stars of Destiny was being circulated online without obtaining mandatory statutory and official clearances.
According to police, authorities took cognisance after information surfaced on social media platforms and news forums, suggesting that digital copies of the memoir were being shared ahead of any official release.
During preliminary verification, investigators reportedly found a typeset PDF version of the book available on certain websites. Some online platforms were also displaying the finalised book cover, creating the impression that the memoir was commercially available for purchase.
The issue gained further traction after a printed copy of the unpublished book was publicly displayed within the Parliament complex, an incident that intensified political and institutional scrutiny and prompted questions about potential breaches of protocol concerning military publications.
The circulation of an unpublished memoir by a former Army Chief, especially one dealing with sensitive periods of military command, has raised concerns about confidentiality, clearance mechanisms, and institutional safeguards.
Four Stars of Destiny is authored by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, who served as the 28th Chief of Army Staff from 31 December 2019 to 30 April 2022. The memoir is expected to chronicle his nearly four-decade-long military career, tracing his journey from a Second Lieutenant to the top post in the Indian Army.
According to reports, the book offers insights into several key events during his tenure, including India’s most serious military standoff with China since 1962, making the issue of unauthorised circulation particularly sensitive.
As investigations continue, the incident has sparked a wider debate on copyright enforcement, digital piracy, and clearance norms for military memoirs, with authorities now probing how the unpublished manuscript entered the public domain.
