In another fresh development surrounding the ongoing controversy over General (Retd) MM Naravane’s memoir, ‘Four Stars of Destiny,’ Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the former Army chief had earlier announced about his book release on social media.
This comes after Penguin Random House India (PRHI) in a statement on Tuesday said it holds the exclusive publishing rights to the memoir and clarified that no copies, either in print or digital form were released to the public.
Responding to the clarification by the publisher, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that either the former Army chief or publisher could be lying about the book release.
https://x.com/manojnaravane/status/1735671140931002632?s=46
Referring to a 2023 post by Naravane, Rahul Gandhi said there is a tweet in which the former Army chief wrote, “Hello friends. My book is available now. Just follow the link. Happy reading. Jai Hind.”
जनरल नरवणे जी ने 2023 में ही एक tweet से बता दिया था कि उनकी किताब सबके लिए उपलब्ध है।
ऐसे में Penguin Publication किसके दबाव में झूठ बोल रहा है?
मोदी सरकार डरी हुई है और इसलिए नेता विपक्ष राहुल गांधी जी को सच बोलने से रोक रही है। pic.twitter.com/SK0IFQf624
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 10, 2026
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament over this, Rahul said, “My point is either Mr Narvane is lying or it is Penguin, which is lying. I don’t think the former Army chief will lie. But both can’t be telling the truth. Penguin is saying the book is not published but it’s available on Amazon.”
“Penguin is saying the book has not be published. General Naravane is speaking in his tweet, ‘Please buy my book.’ He tweeted that in 2023. I believe Mr Naravane over Penguin, he is the Army Chief. He has made some statements in the book that is inconvenient for the government of India and inconvenient for the Prime Minister of India and obviously you have to decide whether Penguin is telling the truth or the Army Chief. That is the simple issue,” said the Congress leader.
Naravane Breaks Silence
Amid the growing uproar following Rahul Gandhi’s statements, General Manoj Naravane finally responded on Tuesday evening. He reposted Penguin’s clarification on X and wrote that the publisher’s statement reflects the true status of his book.
Where Did the Confusion Begin
The entire confusion around the publication of the book has reportedly stems from two separate tweets made at different times.
The first tweet dates back to December 2023 when General Manoj Naravane posted, “Hello friends. My book is now available. Follow the link. Happy reading. Jai Hind.” His post included the book’s cover and an Amazon link. At that time, readers were able to pre-order the book online.
The second tweet, however, came in February 2026 from Penguin India. The publisher stated, “The book has not gone into the publication process. No print or digital copy has been released. Any version circulating is a copyright violation.”
Where Did Rahul Gandhi Go Wrong?
Rahul Gandhi has been treating the 2023 tweet as final proof that the book was published. But in publishing language, “available” often means available for pre-order, not available in bookstores.
However, the actual availability happens only when clearance is granted, printing is completed and copies reach the market. The government said the book contains references to sensitive matters such as Galwan and political decisions, which is why clearance had been pending.
A book being listed for pre-order does not mean it has been printed or officially released. Publishers often list books online before final printing. Actual printing happens later, after all required approvals and clearances are obtained. In this case, the printing was reportedly halted because necessary clearances were not granted.
In other words, the 2023 stage was only a listing and pre-order phase, not final publication. Treating that stage as proof that the book was fully published may be inaccurate.
Pre-order means that the book is expected to be released, that customers can place advance orders and if delayed or cancelled, refunds are issued.
Naravane’s book went on pre-order in 2023. Later, the listing was removed and orders were cancelled. People claiming “It was on Amazon” are correct, but it was only a listing, not a printed book available in stores.
Delhi Police FIR Adds to the Row
The Delhi Police on Monday registered an FIR over the circulation of the unpublished book, following claims that a pre-print version was being shared without mandatory clearance from competent authorities.
In an official statement, the police said it had taken cognisance of information circulating online about a pre-print copy of the book titled Four Stars of Destiny being available publicly despite not receiving the required approvals.
“The Delhi Police has taken cognisance of information circulating on social media platforms and online news forums claiming that a pre-print copy of a book titled Four Stars of Destiny is being circulated without mandatory clearance from competent authorities,” the statement said.
A PDF version of the book was reportedly shared widely on WhatsApp and social media. Authorities are treating the matter as both copyright infringement and the unlawful dissemination of potentially sensitive information.
The case has been registered with the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, which will carry out a detailed investigation into the alleged leak or breach involving a yet-to-be-approved publication. An investigation is currently underway, the police said.
Where Does the Truth Stand?
At the heart of the dispute is a timeline issue since the book was listed for pre-order in 2023, and General Naravane publicly announced it as “available.” But according to the publisher, it never completed the publication process. Without final clearance, printing was stopped. Therefore, while the book may have appeared “available” online for pre-order, it was not officially printed or released.
The circulating copies, as per Penguin and the police, are unauthorized. The debate now centers not only on the contents of the book but also on whether the political argument is based on a misunderstanding of the publishing process.
What Is the Book Publishing Process?
Publishing a book is not a one-day event. It happens in stages, first the author submits the manuscript. The publisher then edits the content, following which the cover is designed. An ISBN number is obtained, after which the book is listed online (Amazon, Flipkart, etc.). Pre-orders begin and payments are collected and then the final printing happens at the last stage, after all approvals and clearances.
