Amid row, confusion deepens over circulation of former Army Chief’s unreleased memoir; What we know so far
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, February 10, 2026: Confusion and controversy continue to deepen over the circulation of the unreleased memoir Four Stars of Destiny, attributed to a former Army Chief, as political leaders, law enforcement and a major publisher trade sharp statements in an evolving political row.
The dispute began when excerpts allegedly from the unpublished book were cited in Parliament, prompting objections from the treasury benches and bringing questions about parliamentary norms, publication protocols and national discourse to the fore.
At the centre of the political storm, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has directly challenged the publishing house’s claim that Four Stars of Destiny has not entered public circulation.
Responding to Penguin Random House India’s statement denying publication, Gandhi said outside Parliament, “Either Mr Naravane is lying or it is Penguin which is lying… I don’t think the former Army chief will lie.” He cited a 2023 social media post by the ex-Army chief promoting the book and questioned the contradiction between the author’s earlier message and the current position of the publisher.
“Penguin says the book has not been published. But the book was available on Amazon… I believe Naravane ji over Penguin,” Gandhi asserted, adding that the dispute goes beyond mere publication status and touches on what he described as “inconvenient truths” for the Government of India.
Gandhi has also accused critics of trying to suppress debate on issues raised in the alleged manuscript, particularly related to India’s strategic challenges, including the China border crisis — a point that has driven much of the political back-and-forth in recent days.
Opposition MPs had attempted to quote from the purported text during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, triggering prolonged disruptions and repeated objections from the treasury benches.
Penguin Random House India, however, issued a firm clarification earlier this week, stating it “holds the sole publishing rights” for Four Stars of Destiny and that “no copies of the book — in print or digital form — have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public.” The publisher warned that any circulating version, whether partial or complete, would constitute a copyright infringement and said it would pursue legal action against unauthorised dissemination. “Any copies of the book currently in circulation … constitute an infringement of PRHI’s copyright,” the statement emphasised.
The legal situation has become a central part of the row, with the Delhi Police registering a First Information Report (FIR) over the alleged circulation of a pre-print or PDF version of the memoir. Police officials confirmed that the FIR was filed after information surfaced on social media platforms and news forums indicating that an unapproved version of the book was being shared.
The case has been assigned to the Special Cell, and investigators are working to trace how the unpublished manuscript entered the public domain and whether any laws relating to unauthorised distribution or mandatory clearance protocols were violated.
Political reactions have been intensifying on both sides. Opposition MPs have criticised the government’s focus on procedural objections, with some accusing authorities of trying to shield uncomfortable content through technical arguments about publication status.
The book had briefly appeared in online retail listings before being removed — a development that opposition leaders have cited as further evidence that versions of the manuscript had circulated publicly prior to the current dispute.
Inside Parliament, tensions over the memoir led to dramatic scenes earlier in the week, including the suspension of eight Congress MPs amid clashes with the treasury benches over repeated attempts to refer to the unpublished text during debate.
On the other hand, ruling party members have maintained that citing an unpublished work in the Lok Sabha violates established parliamentary norms. Parliamentary Affairs leaders argued that only authenticated and publicly available material should form the basis of debate, and that referencing a manuscript that has not completed the formal publication process undermines legislative rules and protocols.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the broader question of protocols for publications by former military officials. Media reports indicate that Four Stars of Destiny was still awaiting necessary clearances from the Ministry of Defence and publisher, a process that can be lengthy for works involving potentially sensitive material. The former Army Chief himself had acknowledged that while he had completed writing the memoir, the process of publication — including review and permission from authorities — remained pending.