Stalled For 2 Years, Now A Political Hot Potato, Police File Case Over Leak Of Army General’s Book

NEW DELHI – Delhi Police have registered a case following reports that a pre-print copy of an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane is being circulated online without mandatory official clearance.

The memoir, titled ‘Four Stars of Destiny,’ has been the subject of intense scrutiny as it reportedly contains allegations that the country’s top political leadership failed to provide clear directives during the 2020 military standoff with China. The border clash, which is a focal point of the memoir, resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops.

The book has been awaiting government clearance since 2024, a standard requirement for high-ranking military officials handling sensitive information.

Police intervention comes one week after a significant political row in Parliament, where the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, was seen holding a copy of the manuscript. Gandhi has used the unreleased text to challenge the government’s narrative on national security, while the administration has maintained that an unpublished and unverified book cannot be cited in official proceedings.

According to police sources, the investigation was triggered by information appearing on social media and news forums claiming a pre-print version was available on the internet. Preliminary verification by authorities revealed that a typeset PDF copy of the book, apparently prepared by Penguin Random House India Private Limited, was accessible on several websites.

Additionally, investigators found that some online marketing platforms were displaying the final cover of the book, giving the public the impression that it was already available for purchase. The publishing house has previously clarified that no copies—digital or print—have been officially released or sold.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police is now examining how the manuscript was leaked and identifying the individuals or networks responsible for uploading and circulating the unauthorized material. Investigators are analyzing digital trails to trace the origin of the PDF and determine if the leak constitutes a breach of the Official Secrets Act or other security protocols. (IANS)