The Delhi Police Special Cell has initiated a multi-nation investigation into the alleged leak of former Army Chief General MM Naravane’s memoir,Four Stars of Destiny. The probe began after reports revealed that the unpublished book had surfaced in international digital markets before receiving mandatory clearance from the Defence Ministry.
An FIR has been registered under charges of criminal conspiracy. Preliminary findings suggest that the leak may not be a case of simple digital piracy but a planned and coordinated operation designed to bypass official defence publication approval processes.
Investigators have traced online listings of the memoir to platforms operating in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia. The first upload was reportedly linked to a website using a “.io” domain extension, after which the content was mirrored across multiple hosting platforms.
A major focus of the investigation is the presence of an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) in the leaked version. Officials believe the ISBN indicates that the book had entered the formal publishing system and was publication-ready, rather than being a raw draft. Penguin India, the listed publisher, has clarified that the memoir was never officially published and no authorised copies exist. Authorities are now examining digital footprints, financial transactions, and possible international collaborators.
