New Delhi: Uncertainty and political confrontation have intensified over the alleged circulation of Four Stars of Destiny, an unreleased memoir attributed to a former Army Chief, with opposition leaders, the publisher and law enforcement agencies issuing conflicting claims as the controversy widens.
The issue surfaced after references to alleged excerpts from the unpublished book were made in Parliament, triggering strong objections from the treasury benches and sparking a debate over parliamentary conventions, copyright norms and the boundaries of public discourse.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has openly questioned the assertion by Penguin Random House India that the book has never been released or circulated. Speaking outside Parliament, Gandhi said the statements of the publisher and the former Army Chief were contradictory, asserting that he found it difficult to believe that the retired Army Chief would make misleading claims. He referred to a social media post from 2023 in which the former Army Chief appeared to promote the memoir, raising doubts about the publisher’s denial.
Gandhi further claimed that versions of the book were briefly available on online platforms before being taken down. According to him, the controversy is not limited to technicalities of publication but relates to substantive issues allegedly discussed in the manuscript, including India’s strategic challenges and the situation along the China border.
Opposition members attempted to cite portions of the purported text during the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha, leading to repeated disruptions and objections. The situation escalated into confrontations in the House, resulting in the suspension of eight Congress MPs earlier this week.
Penguin Random House India has firmly rejected allegations of publication, stating that it holds exclusive publishing rights to Four Stars of Destiny and that no version of the book, in print or digital form, has been released, sold or distributed. The publisher warned that any circulating copies would amount to copyright infringement and said it would initiate legal action against unauthorised distribution.
The legal dimension of the dispute deepened after the Delhi Police registered an FIR over the alleged circulation of a pre-print or PDF version of the memoir. Officials said the case was filed following information circulating on social media and news platforms suggesting that an unauthorised version was in public circulation. The investigation has been handed over to the Special Cell to determine how the manuscript surfaced and whether any legal or clearance procedures were violated.
Political reactions have grown sharper, with opposition leaders accusing the government of hiding behind procedural arguments to avoid debate on sensitive issues. They have pointed to the brief appearance of the book on online retail platforms as evidence that some version of the manuscript had entered the public domain.
The ruling party, however, has maintained that referring to an unpublished work in Parliament violates established norms. Leaders handling parliamentary affairs have argued that legislative debates must rely only on verified and publicly available material, and that citing an unpublished manuscript undermines parliamentary protocol.
The controversy has also revived discussion on clearance procedures for books authored by former military officials. Reports indicate that the memoir was still undergoing mandatory review and approval processes, including scrutiny by the Ministry of Defence. The former Army Chief had earlier stated that while the manuscript was complete, formal clearances required before publication were still pending.
