Penguin gets notice over Naravane memoir leak, asked to join probe

According to a senior police officer, the publisher has been asked to answer several questions within a stipulated time frame and join the investigation.

The issue took a political turn last week when Leader of opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi raised the book in Parliament, using it to target PM Narendra Modi-led government.

Meanwhile, the police have also added charges of criminal conspiracy in the FIR that it filed on Monday to investigate the alleged leak and breach of a yet to be approved book of the former Army Chief.

The police officer said the FIR was filed after the police took cognisance of information on social media and news forums that claimed a pre-print copy of the book ‘Four Stars of Destiny’ was being circulated.

“It was also reported that the necessary clearance for publication of this book was yet to be received from the relevant authorities. Upon verification, it was found that a PDF copy of a type-set book with the same title, and apparently prepared by M/s Penguin Random House India Pvt Limited, is available on certain websites. Besides, some online marketing platforms have also displayed the finished book cover as if it was available for purchase,” said the officer.

Meanwhile, the publisher has clarified that no copies of the book either in print or digital format have been published, distributed or sold.

“Any copies of the book currently in circulation, whether in whole or in part, and in any format including print, digital, PDF, online or offline, constitute an infringement of the PRHI’s copyright.”

The former COAS also shared the publisher’s statement on his memoir that said no copies of the book “in print or digital form have been published, distributed, sold” or otherwise made available to the public in a post on X on Tuesday.