Penguin Random House Statement After FIR on Ex-Army Chief Naravane’s Unpublished Book Leak

Penguin Random House India (PRHI) on Monday issued a clarification asserting its exclusive publishing rights over Four Stars of Destiny, the memoir of former Chief of the Indian Army General Manoj Mukund Naravane, after the Delhi Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) into the alleged leak of the unpublished book.

In its statement, the publisher said the memoir has not yet been published and that no authorised copies-either in print or digital form-have been released, distributed, sold, or made available to the public by Penguin Random House India.

The clarification came hours after Delhi Police announced that an FIR had been filed following reports that the book was being circulated and promoted online despite not having received mandatory clearance from the competent authorities. Police said they were alerted to online posts suggesting that a PDF version of the manuscript and promotional material related to the book were available on certain platforms.

PRHI warned that any copies currently in circulation, whether in full or in part, across any format-including print, digital, PDF, online, or offline-constitute a violation of its copyright. The publisher said it would pursue all legal remedies available against the unauthorised dissemination of the material.

According to police sources, a preliminary verification revealed that a typeset PDF manuscript bearing the same title was accessible on select websites. While the document appears to have been prepared by Penguin Random House India Pvt. Ltd., officials said its authenticity is yet to be confirmed. Investigators also found that some online retail and marketing platforms had displayed the book's cover, giving the impression that it was available for purchase.

Officials said the matter is being treated as sensitive, as it involves the circulation of material linked to a publication that is yet to receive formal clearance. The investigation will examine possible copyright violations, illegal distribution, and other procedural lapses.

The case has been handed over to the Special Cell of Delhi Police, which will now work to trace the source of the alleged leak, identify those responsible for uploading or circulating the manuscript, and determine how the material reached public platforms ahead of official approval.