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On Monday, the Delhi Police announced that they have initiated a first information report (FIR) regarding the alleged distribution of an unpublished memoir by former Indian Army chief MM Naravane.

This FIR follows ongoing disruptions in Parliament since February 3, where the Opposition has been protesting against the restriction placed on Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, from quoting a passage from the memoir that discusses political decisions made during the 2020 border standoff between India and China.

The police stated that they have taken note of information circulating on social media and various online platforms, which claim that a pre-print version of a book titled Four Stars of Destiny is being shared without the necessary approvals from relevant authorities.

Reports indicate that the required clearance for the book's publication has not yet been obtained, as noted by a media outlet.

Upon investigation, authorities discovered that a PDF version of the typeset book, purportedly prepared by M/s Penguin Random House India Pvt Ltd, is accessible on certain websites, and some online retailers have even showcased the book cover as if it were available for sale.

The FIR has been filed with the special cell, which will investigate the alleged leak or violation concerning the unpublished work.

Excerpts from the memoir that Gandhi attempted to reference in the Lok Sabha were reported in December 2023 and were also cited by a magazine earlier this month.

Members of the ruling party have raised objections to Gandhi's remarks, asserting that he was quoting from a book that has not yet been officially released.

In his memoir, Naravane recounts that on August 31, 2020, he sought explicit instructions from India's political and military leaders regarding the Army's response to Chinese military movements in eastern Ladakh.

He noted that shortly after his request for orders, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed him that he had consulted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, indicating that the military was to act as it saw fit.

This directive suggested that the Indian military's response was to be entirely a military decision, placing the responsibility squarely on Naravane.

The events Naravane described occurred during heightened tensions at the India-China border.

Although the book is scheduled for release in April 2024, it has not yet been published. In October, Naravane mentioned that the publisher was awaiting approval from the Union government.

The Union government has not provided any comments regarding the memoir's content.

However, on February 2, the Defence Minister remarked in Parliament that the book would have been published if its contents were accurate, suggesting that Naravane could pursue legal action if he believes his memoir has been unjustly withheld.