Delhi Police registers FIR registered after unreleased ex-Army chief Naravane book surfaces online

LoP Rahul Gandhi with a printed copy of former Army chief MM Naravane’s memoir

• Delhi Police filed FIR over leaked unpublished memoir by ex-Army Chief Naravane
• Rahul Gandhi's memoir reference in Parliament causes controversy and disruptions.
• Eight MPs suspended after uproar in Lok Sabha over the book and related issues

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The Delhi Police on Monday registered a First Information Report (FIR) after reports surfaced that an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane, titled 'Four Stars of Destiny', was being circulated online without the required clearances.

Officials said the action followed information flagged on social media platforms and news forums claiming that a pre-print version of the book was in circulation.

According to police sources cited by NDTV, it was reported that the mandatory approval for the book’s publication had not yet been obtained from the concerned authorities.

During verification, investigators found that a PDF of a typeset manuscript bearing the same title and apparently prepared by Penguin Random House India Pvt. Limited was available on certain websites. In addition, some online marketing platforms displayed the final book cover as though it was ready for sale.

Taking note of the alleged leak of what is described as a yet-to-be-approved publication, the Special Cell registered a case to conduct a detailed probe.

The controversy had intensified last week when Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was seen holding up what he described as a copy of the memoir within the Parliament complex. He was not permitted by the Chair to cite excerpts from the book, which reportedly contains references to the 2020 India-China military standoff in Ladakh.

Addressing reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said, “The speaker is saying that this book does not exist, Rajnath ji has said this book does not exist. This is Naravane ji's book wherein he has written the account of Ladakh...Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his responsibility.”

On Monday, he alleged that the Prime Minister avoided attending the Lok Sabha discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s address because of the controversy surrounding the memoir. “The PM did not come to the House. He was scared of what we say, he was scared of being handed Naravane's book as a first step,” Gandhi claimed.

The Congress leader also rejected allegations that opposition members posed any threat to the Prime Minister. “There is no question of that. The fact is very clear, the prime minister was scared to come to the House not because of the members but because of what I was saying, and he is still scared because he cannot face the truth,” he said.

Referring to claims of threats, Gandhi remarked, “Please do an FIR, arrest that person’. Why you are not doing that!”

He maintained that the opposition wanted a discussion on the issue and added, “The agreement is that we will be allowed to say these points and then the discussion should happen.”

The matter triggered a major uproar in the Lok Sabha, leading to repeated disruptions and the suspension of eight Members of Parliament for the remainder of the ongoing Budget session.