Key Highlights
- Allegations of Deception: Rahul Gandhi claimed on Tuesday that either the former Army Chief or the publisher is providing false information regarding the book’s availability.
- Amazon Availability: Gandhi pointed out that the memoir, “Four Stars of Destiny,” was listed on Amazon and promoted by General Naravane himself in late 2023.
- Publisher’s Denial: former Army Chief (PRHI) maintains that the book has never been officially released in any format, print or digital.
- Police Action: The Delhi Police Special Cell has registered an FIR following the unauthorized circulation of a PDF version of the manuscript.
- Political Sensitivity: The memoir reportedly contains critical insights into the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and the Agnipath recruitment scheme, which the opposition alleges are being suppressed by the government.
The controversy surrounding “Four Stars of Destiny,” the memoir of former Chief of Army Staff General Manoj Mukund Naravane, escalated on Tuesday as Rahul Gandhi intensified his critique of both the publisher and the government. Speaking to reporters at the Parliament House complex, the Leader of the Opposition raised serious questions about the transparency of the publication process. Gandhi argued that the public is being misled about whether the book has actually reached the market.
“Either General Naravane is lying, which I do not believe, or Penguin is lying. Both cannot be telling the truth,” Gandhi stated. To support his claim, he cited a social media post from December 2023 in which General Naravane told followers his book was “available now” and provided a purchase link. Gandhi emphasized that he holds the former Army Chief in high regard and trusts his word over the statements issued by the publishing house.
#WATCH दिल्ली पुलिस द्वारा पूर्व आर्मी चीफ जनरल एमएम नरवणे (रिटायर्ड) की अनपब्लिश्ड किताब के कथित सर्कुलेशन की जांच के लिए FIR फाइल करने पर, लोकसभा में विपक्ष के नेता राहुल गांधी ने कहा, "मनोज मुकुंद नरवणे का एक ट्वीट है जिसमें लिखा है -"बस मेरी किताब के लिंक को फॉलो करें"। मैं… pic.twitter.com/NRJwsMiX3L
— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) February 10, 2026
Conflict Between Official Statements and Digital Evidence
The dispute centers on a fundamental contradiction between the publisher’s stance and digital footprints. Penguin Random House India (PRHI) issued a firm clarification on Monday, asserting that it holds exclusive rights to the memoir but has not yet authorized its publication or distribution. This statement came in response to the illegal circulation of a typeset PDF that has been moving through WhatsApp and email groups.
Despite the publisher’s denial, Gandhi noted that the book had been visible on major retail platforms like Amazon for pre-order and had even been brandished by him in Parliament. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has reportedly been reviewing the manuscript since late 2023, a standard but lengthy procedure for high-ranking military officials. However, the opposition alleges that this review is a veiled attempt to stall the release of information that might be politically inconvenient for the Prime Minister.
Security Concerns and the Delhi Police FIR
The situation took a legal turn when the Delhi Police Special Cell registered an FIR regarding the “purported leak or breach” of the unpublished work. Authorities are investigating how a finalized version of the manuscript entered the public domain without the mandatory statutory clearances. The book is said to offer a specialist’s perspective on the 2020 border tensions with China, including specific operational details of the night Indian and Chinese tanks stood in direct proximity.
Critics of the government’s handling of the situation, including Gandhi, suggest that the memoir’s content regarding the Agnipath scheme and the Galwan standoff is the real reason for the delay. While the publisher warns of copyright infringement and legal action against those sharing the digital copies, the political debate continues to focus on whether the delay is a matter of national security or political damage control.
A Career Under Scrutiny
General Naravane served as India’s 28th Chief of Army Staff from 2019 to 2022, overseeing the military during one of its most challenging periods in recent history. His memoir was originally slated for an April 2024 release, but it has remained in a state of administrative limbo for over a year. As the investigation into the unauthorized leak continues, the “Four Stars of Destiny” has become more than just a military biography; it is now a central flashpoint in the ongoing debate over transparency and national security.
