Rahul Gandhi cites Gen Naravane tweet amid Delhi Police probe over unpublished memoir

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday cited a December 2023 social media post by former Army Chief Gen M. M. Naravane , in which the general wrote, “Hello friends. My book is available now. Just follow the link. Happy reading. Jai Hind.” Gandhi used the post to challenge Penguin Random House India’s claim that the memoir Four Stars of Destiny has not yet been published, saying, “Either Mr Naravane is lying, and I believe the (former) Army chief - I don’t think he will lie - or Penguin is lying. Both cannot be telling the truth. The book is available on Amazon. Gen Naravane has tweeted, as I just read to you, that please buy my book. Do you believe Penguin over Mr Naravane? I believe Mr Naravane.” He also alleged that the memoir contains statements “inconvenient” for the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi tried to quote specific excerpts from the memoir in the Lok Sabha on 5 February 2026 , highlighting the 2020 India-China border standoff in eastern Ladakh. He referred to operational details, including claims that “four Chinese tanks entered Indian territory” , arguing the information was relevant to national security and parliamentary debate. Government leaders objected, citing that the book is unpublished and unauthenticated, and repeatedly disallowed the reading, leading to disruptions in House proceedings. Eight MPs were suspended for the remainder of the ongoing Budget session amid the protests.

The Delhi Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) following the alleged unauthorised circulation of a pre-print copy of the memoir on social media and other online platforms. The book has not yet received mandatory clearance from relevant authorities. The case has been handed to the Special Cell to trace the source of the leak, identify those responsible, and investigate potential breaches of copyright and publication regulations. While Gandhi has publicly displayed a purported copy of the memoir in Parliament, there is no verified indication that police will question him, as the FIR is focused on the unauthorised distribution of the manuscript .

Investigations revealed that a PDF copy of a typeset version was circulating on certain websites, and some online platforms displayed the finished book cover as if it were available for purchase, despite no official approval. Penguin Random House India (PRHI) , which holds exclusive publishing rights, clarified that no copies - digital or print - have been published, distributed, or sold , warning that any circulating versions constitute copyright infringement and may face legal action.

The memoir, reportedly spanning approximately 448 pages, covers General Naravane’s four decades of service, including his leadership during India’s 2020 border standoff with China. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been reviewing the manuscript to ensure compliance with rules governing publication by senior military officials due to potential national security implications. General Naravane had previously stated that the manuscript’s clearance was beyond his direct control, underscoring the extensive review process required for publication.

The Delhi Police continue to investigate digital trails and metadata to determine the origin of the leak and prevent further unauthorised dissemination. Until Penguin Random House India formally announces an authorised release and the memoir receives all necessary clearances, any circulating copies - digital or physical - remain unauthorised and potentially unlawful.