Penguin Random House India has stepped in to address the growing controversy around Four Stars of Destiny, the memoir of former Army chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, saying the book has not been released in any form and that the publisher alone holds the rights to it.
The clarification comes as Delhi Police investigate reports that unauthorised copies of the manuscript may have been circulated, triggering a political storm that has now reached Parliament.
Publisher Issues Public Statement
On Monday, Penguin Random House India issued an official note after media reports suggested that digital or printed versions of the memoir were already in circulation.
The publisher posted the statement on X:
Statement from the publisher.
pic.twitter.com/pksacg3EeT
— Penguin India (@PenguinIndia) February 9, 2026
Penguin said it holds the exclusive publishing rights to the memoir and stressed that the book has not yet entered publication.
“Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane… We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication,” the statement said.
The company also underlined that it has not released or distributed any copies—whether in print or digital format.
Penguin further cautioned that any version of the memoir currently being shared—complete or partial—would be treated as a breach of copyright.
“Any copies of the book currently in circulation… whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format… constitutes an infringement of PRHI’s copyright and must immediately be ceased,” it said.
The publisher added that legal action would be pursued against any unauthorised distribution of the manuscript.
The publishing house’s intervention follows the registration of an FIR by Delhi Police. The case has reportedly been handed over to the Special Cell, which is examining how material from an unreleased publication may have surfaced publicly.
Officials have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
The dispute took a political turn after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen holding what he described as a copy of the memoir inside the Parliament complex last week.
Gandhi attempted to refer to excerpts from the book in the Lok Sabha beginning February 2 but was stopped on the grounds that the memoir has not been formally published.
Speaking to reporters, Gandhi insisted the book exists despite official denials.
“The Speaker has said this book does not exist… Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ji has said this book does not exist. Every youngster in India should see this book exists,” he said.
He also claimed the memoir contains a detailed account of the 2020 India-China standoff in Ladakh.
Tensions escalated further on Tuesday when eight MPs were suspended for the remainder of the Budget session after protests erupted over Gandhi being barred for a second consecutive day from quoting material linked to the unpublished memoir.
Seven of those suspended belong to the Congress, while one is from the CPI(M).
Rahul Gandhi has since written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, calling the restriction a serious issue and describing it as a “blot on our democracy.”
Manuscript Leak At Centre Of Dispute
While the political confrontation continues, the core legal issue remains the suspected leak of an unpublished manuscript.
Delhi Police’s Special Cell is probing how portions of the memoir may have reached the public domain before official approval or release.
Penguin Random House India has reiterated that Four Stars of Destiny remains unpublished and that any circulating copies are unauthorised.
As the matter now straddles publishing rights, parliamentary debate, and national security concerns, the book—at the centre of the uproar—remains officially unavailable to the public.
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