Delhi Police Investigation Uncovers Coordinated Plot in Army Chief Memoir Leak
In a significant development, Delhi Police's preliminary investigation into the alleged leak of a pre-print copy of 'Four Stars of Destiny'—the unpublished memoir of former Army chief General MM Naravane (retd)—has revealed that it was not the work of a suspected whistleblower. Instead, authorities suggest it was a coordinated effort deliberately designed to bypass the mandatory clearance process by the Ministry of Defence, according to an official statement made on Wednesday.
Expanded Probe and Criminal Conspiracy Charges
Broadening the scope of the investigation, the Special Cell has now incorporated the serious charge of "hatching a criminal conspiracy" into the First Information Report (FIR). As part of this expanded probe, authorities have issued a formal notice to the publisher, Penguin Random House India, demanding answers to a specific set of questions regarding their involvement and knowledge of the incident.
International Distribution and Digital Trail
The investigation is primarily concentrated on the alleged sale and distribution of the pre-print copy across several countries, including:
- The United States
- Canada
- The United Kingdom
- Australia
An investigator detailed the digital trail, stating, "The initial leaks were allegedly uploaded to .io domain extensions associated with the British Indian Ocean Territory. Subsequently, these files proliferated across multiple other hosting platforms, complicating the tracking process."
Forensic Analysis and Publisher Scrutiny
Police forensic teams are meticulously analyzing the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), a 13-digit identifier prominently visible on the leaked versions of the memoir. This analysis aims to trace the origin and authenticity of the leaked material. Authorities plan to question Penguin Random House India extensively about this identifier and other related matters.
The official further explained, "The publishers will face rigorous questioning on why their public statement on X (formerly Twitter) was issued only after the FIR was registered. Additionally, they must clarify why they did not immediately approach the police upon discovering the leak, raising concerns about their response timeline."
Publisher's Clarification and Market Confusion
Police reports indicate that a PDF version of the book, allegedly created by Penguin Random House India, was accessible on certain websites. Moreover, several online marketing platforms misleadingly displayed the finished book cover, creating the false impression that the memoir was available for order, which added to the confusion and unauthorized dissemination.
In response, Penguin Random House India has issued a clarification, asserting that they hold the exclusive publishing rights to 'Four Stars of Destiny' and confirming that the book has not been released in any form—whether digital or print—to the public. This statement aims to distance the publisher from the unauthorized leaks and reinforce their legal standing in the matter.
