The Delhi Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the circulation of an unpublished book authored by former Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund Naravane. The FIR was registered on Monday, February 9, 2026, following reports that the book, titled "Four Stars of Destiny," was being circulated on social media and online platforms without the necessary clearance from relevant authorities.

The issue gained prominence after excerpts from the unpublished memoir were cited by Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not fulfill his responsibility during the 2020 India-China military clashes in Ladakh, referencing the contents of Naravane's book. He further claimed that the government was preventing discussions on the memoir. This led to disruptions in the Lok Sabha, and the suspension of eight Members of Parliament for the remainder of the Budget session.

The police investigation was initiated after it was found that a PDF copy of the book, apparently prepared by Penguin Random House India Pvt Ltd, was available on certain websites. Furthermore, some online marketing platforms displayed the book cover as if it were available for purchase. The Special Cell of the Delhi Police is conducting a thorough investigation into the purported leak or breach of the yet-to-be-approved publication.

Regulations restrict senior military officials from revealing classified information or crucial leadership decisions even after retirement. These regulations fall under the Official Secrets Act, requiring prior government clearance before publishing books or information containing sensitive content. While there is a general one-year "cooling-off" period for taking up commercial or private employment, publishing secret content necessitates government approval.

"Four Stars of Destiny," the memoir of General Naravane, who served as Army chief from December 31, 2019, to April 30, 2022, remains unpublished due to pending clearance from the Defence Ministry. The clearance is particularly related to sensitive details concerning the 2020 Line of Actual Control (LAC) standoff and the Agnipath scheme.