Delhi Police Notices Publisher on Naravane Memoir Leaks

Delhi Police's Special Cell issued a notice to Penguin Random House India on Wednesday, seeking clarifications on the status of former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane's unpublished memoir, "Four Stars of Destiny," amid reports of unauthorized copies circulating online and in other formats. The action follows an FIR filed earlier this week investigating potential copyright violations and leaks of the manuscript, which has not received necessary security clearances.

The controversy intensified after Penguin Random House India released a statement on Monday asserting its exclusive publishing rights to the book. The publisher emphasized that no copies, in print or digital form, have been published, distributed, sold, or made available to the public. "The book has not gone into publication," the statement read, warning that any versions currently in circulation constitute copyright infringement and could lead to legal action. To address confusion, the company explained its publishing process, noting that announcing a title or listing it for preorder does not equate to formal publication, which occurs only when the book is available for purchase through retail channels.