Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane (Retd) has issued his first public reaction following a week of intense political sparring over his unpublished memoir, Four Stars of Destiny. On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the General took to X (formerly Twitter) to endorse his publisher’s stance, stating simply: “This is the status of the book.”
The “status” he refers to is that the book remains officially unpublished, despite a PDF copy leaking online and physical versions being flashed by Opposition leaders in Parliament.
The “Leak” and the Delhi Police FIR
The controversy escalated on Monday when the Delhi Police Special Cell registered an FIR regarding the unauthorized circulation of a PDF version of the manuscript.
- The Investigation: Police noted that a “pre-print typeset copy” prepared by Penguin Random House India (PRHI) had appeared on various social media platforms and websites.
- The Breach: The investigation focuses on how a document that is still under review by the Ministry of Defence (MoD)—a mandatory requirement for memoirs by top military officials—found its way into the public domain.
The Parliament Face-Off: Rahul Gandhi vs. The Government
The memoir has become a central weapon for the Opposition during the ongoing Budget Session.
- The “Uchita” Command: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly attempted to quote from the book, specifically a section where the PM reportedly told the General to “do whatever you think is appropriate” (jo uchit samjho) during the 2020 Kailash Range standoff.
- The Counter-Argument: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the Treasury benches have successfully blocked these quotes, arguing that referencing an “unpublished and unverified” manuscript violates Rule 349(i) of the Lok Sabha and harms national security.
- The “Available Now” Tweet: Earlier today, Rahul Gandhi challenged the government by pulling up a 2023 tweet by Gen. Naravane that had announced the book as “Available Now.” However, Penguin clarified that pre-order announcements are not the same as official publication.
Key Excerpts Fueling the Political Fire
Based on leaked sections and reports by The Caravan and The Wire, the memoir reportedly touches on sensitive topics: | Topic | Reported Content | | :— | :— | | Galwan 2020 | Claims of “vague instructions” from political leadership during peak tensions with China. | | Agnipath Scheme | Alleged initial reservations within the Army about the short-term recruitment model. | | Bhutan/China | Insights into Chinese road construction in Bhutan to pressure the Siliguri Corridor. |
The Publisher’s Warning
Penguin Random House India (PRHI) has warned of strict legal action against anyone possessing or sharing the leaked PDF.
“Any copies of the book currently in circulation… whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format… constitutes an infringement of copyright and must immediately be ceased.”