Penguin India clarifies ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ not published, warns of legal action

NEW DELHI: Penguin Random House India has released a statement clarifying that it holds the sole publishing rights for ‘Four Stars of Destiny’, a memoir by former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane.

The publisher stated that the book has not gone into publication and no copies, print or digital, have been published, distributed, sold, or made available to the public.

In an X post on Monday, Penguin India stated, “In light of recent public discourse and media reporting, Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army. We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. No copies of the book – in print or digital form — have been published, distributed, sold, or otherwise made available to the public by Penguin Random House India”.

Statement from the publisher. pic.twitter.com/pksacg3EeT

— Penguin India (@PenguinIndia) February 9, 2026

Penguin Random House India further said that any copies currently in circulation, in any format or on any platform, constitute a copyright infringement and must be immediately ceased. The publisher added that it will exercise remedies available under law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book.

“Any copies of the book currently in circulation, in whole or in part, whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, constitutes an infringement of PRHI’s copyright and must immediately be ceased. Penguin Random House India shall be exercising remedies available in law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book”, said X post. It added, “This statement is being issued to place the publisher’s position on record”.

A political row erupted after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought to quote from the “pre-print book” of former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane during his speech in Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address last week, with the treasury benches strongly opposing his remarks. After facing several adjournments on the issue, the House last week adopted the motion of thanks by voice vote amid sloganeering by opposition benches.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police has taken cognisance of information found on various social media platforms and news forums claiming that a pre-print copy of the book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ is being circulated, and Special Cell has filed a case into the “purported leak/breach of a yet to be approved publication”. Delhi Police officials said that an investigation has been taken up on the claims of the availability of pre-print copy of the book.

“Delhi Police took cognisance of information found on various online social media platforms and news forums, which claimed that a pre-print copy of the book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ is being circulated. It was also reported that the necessary clearance for the publication of this book is yet to be received from the relevant authorities”, a Delhi Police official said.

“Upon verification, it was found that a PDF copy of a typeset book with the same title, apparently prepared by M/S Penguin Random House India Pvt. Limited, is available on certain websites, and some online marketing platforms have displayed the finished book cover as if it is available for purchase”, the official added.

The police said that in order to carry out a thorough investigation into “this purported leak/breach of a yet to be approved publication, a case has been registered with the Special Cell, and an investigation is being taken up”. (ANI)