Penguin Random House India Issues Firm Clarification on Unpublished Naravane Memoir
In a significant development, Penguin Random House India released an official clarification on Monday, February 9, addressing the escalating controversy surrounding the unpublished memoir of former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, titled 'Four Stars of Destiny'. The publisher has taken a definitive stance to protect its intellectual property rights amidst a growing political and media storm.
Publisher Asserts Exclusive Publishing Rights and Denies Publication
Penguin Random House India explicitly stated that it holds the sole and exclusive publishing rights for the highly anticipated memoir, 'Four Stars of Destiny'. The publisher categorically denied that the book has entered the publication phase. In a detailed statement, the company clarified that no copies of the book, whether in physical print format or digital versions, have been officially published, distributed, sold, or made available to the public through any legitimate channels.
The full statement from Penguin India read, "In light of recent public discourse and media reporting, Penguin Random House India would like to clarify that we hold the sole publishing rights for the book Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by General Manoj Mukund Naravane, former Chief of the Indian Army. We wish to make it clear that the book has not gone into publication. 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."
Unauthorised Circulation Deemed Copyright Infringement
The publisher further emphasized that any copies of the memoir currently circulating in any format constitute a serious breach of copyright law. Penguin Random House India declared that the unauthorised distribution of the book, whether in print, digital, PDF, or any other format, online or offline, on any platform, amounts to copyright infringement. The company has demanded an immediate cessation of all such activities.
In a strongly worded warning, the statement added, "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." The publisher has also indicated its intention to pursue all available legal remedies against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book, stating, "Penguin Random House India shall be exercising remedies available in law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book."
Political Controversy Erupts Over Unpublished Excerpts
The clarification comes in the wake of a major political controversy that erupted last week when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from what he described as a "pre-print" copy of the memoir during his speech in the Lok Sabha. The speech was part of the motion of thanks on the President's Address. Gandhi sought to read an excerpt related to the 2017 Doklam stand-off between India and China, but faced persistent interruptions from Union cabinet ministers, including Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.
The treasury benches vehemently opposed Gandhi's remarks, leading to several adjournments in the House. Ultimately, the motion of thanks was adopted by voice vote amidst loud sloganeering from opposition benches. This incident has thrust the unpublished memoir into the center of a heated political debate, highlighting the sensitive nature of its content.
Delhi Police Files FIR Over Alleged Leak
In a parallel development, the Delhi Police has taken official cognisance of the situation. According to reports from news agency ANI, the police acted on information gathered from various social media platforms and news forums alleging that a pre-print copy of 'Four Stars of Destiny' is being circulated without authorisation.
An official statement confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed regarding the circulation of the unpublished book on social media. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has registered a case to investigate the purported leak or breach of the yet-to-be-approved publication. Police officials have stated that a comprehensive investigation has been initiated to verify claims about the availability of the pre-print copy and to identify those responsible for its unauthorised distribution.
This multi-faceted controversy underscores the complex interplay between publishing rights, political discourse, and legal enforcement in the digital age. Penguin Random House India's firm stance aims to safeguard its contractual and copyright interests while the authorities work to address the alleged breach.
