Delhi Police Sends Notice to Penguin Random House Amid Naravane Book Row

Delhi Police's Special Cell has issued a formal notice to Penguin Random House India amid an escalating controversy over the alleged unauthorized circulation of former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane's unpublished memoir, titled Four Stars of Destiny. The notice, served on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, seeks detailed clarifications and responses to multiple questions regarding how excerpts or copies of the yet-to-be-published book appeared on social media and elsewhere. Police officials confirmed the publisher has been formally approached as part of the ongoing investigation.

The row intensified after an FIR was registered earlier this month under charges including criminal conspiracy, following reports of the manuscript's leak in digital formats without mandatory government clearance. The memoir, which reportedly covers Naravane's tenure from 2019 to 2022—including sensitive details on military operations such as the Galwan Valley clash and policy issues—has been awaiting approval since 2024. Delhi Police are probing the source of the unauthorized dissemination, with the case assigned to the Special Cell for thorough inquiry.

Penguin Random House India has repeatedly asserted that it holds exclusive publishing rights to the book but has not released it in any form—print or digital. In a statement, the publisher emphasized that "no copies of the book... have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public," and indicated it would pursue legal remedies against any unauthorized sharing. General Naravane himself confirmed this position on Tuesday, sharing the publisher's clarification and stating, "This is the status of the book."

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The controversy gained political traction when Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi quoted excerpts from the memoir in Parliament, alleging it contained revelations uncomfortable for the government and accusing authorities of blocking its release. This led to disruptions in the Lok Sabha, with treasury benches objecting to references from an unpublished work, and the Speaker ruling such material cannot be cited. Competing claims over the book's availability have fueled public debate, drawing in senior political figures and raising questions about clearance processes for military memoirs.

The notice to Penguin marks a key step in the police probe, aiming to establish facts around the alleged leak and potential breaches. No charges have been filed against the publisher at this stage, but the development has heightened scrutiny on intellectual property safeguards and publication protocols for sensitive defense-related content. Authorities have urged restraint amid speculation, with further updates expected as responses are received and the investigation progresses.

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