Former Army Chief General MM Naravane has supported the stand taken by his book’s publisher, Penguin Random House India (PRHI), following the controversy over the alleged circulation of his unpublished memoir. This was his first public response since the issue surfaced.

Earlier in the day, the publisher clarified that announcing a book or allowing pre-orders does not mean it has been officially published. It stressed that the memoir has not entered the publication stage. No copies have been printed, sold, or distributed. The company also warned that any version currently in circulation would be treated as a case of copyright infringement.

Naravane shared the publisher’s statement on his official X handle and wrote, “This is the status of the book.”

This is the status of the book. https://t.co/atLtwhJvl0

— Manoj Naravane (@ManojNaravane) February 10, 2026

Row Over Alleged Leaked Copies

The issue began after reports claimed that PDF copies of Naravane’s memoir were being circulated even though the book is yet to receive clearance from the Ministry of Defence. Penguin Random House India came under scrutiny following these claims.

Delhi Police has started an investigation into the alleged illegal sharing of the book. The matter gained political attention after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi referred to certain excerpts from the memoir while criticising the government in the Lok Sabha.

Publisher Clarifies Its Position

In a detailed statement, Penguin Random House India said it holds “the sole publishing rights for the book Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army.” The publisher explained that it issued the clarification because of ongoing public discussion and media reports.

The company firmly stated that the memoir has not been published in any format. It said, “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.”

It further warned that any version of the book currently being shared is illegal. “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,” the publisher said.

Explaining How Publishing Works

After releasing the statement, Penguin also issued a simple guide to explain the publishing process. It clarified that an announced book, a book open for pre-order, and a published book are different stages.

The publisher explained that an announcement only means a book is planned. It is not yet available to the public. On pre-orders, Penguin said, “Pre-order is a standard publishing practice. It allows readers and retailers to place advance orders. The book is not yet published or available.”

It added that even a scheduled publication date only shows when the book is expected to be released. It does not mean the book has already been published. “A book is published only when it is available at retail channels for purchase. We remain committed to clarity and transparency in the books we publish ,” the publisher said.