NEW DELHI: A preliminary investigation by the Delhi Police into the alleged leak of a pre-print copy of Four Stars of Destiny suggests that the incident was not the work of a lone whistleblower but a coordinated attempt to bypass mandatory clearance from the Ministry of Defence, officials said on Wednesday.
The unpublished memoir belongs to former Army chief M M Naravane.
As part of the expanded probe, the police special cell has added charges related to criminal conspiracy to the FIR. Notices have also been issued to Penguin Random House India, seeking detailed explanations on several aspects of the alleged leak.
Overseas Distribution Under Scanner
Investigators are focusing on the possible sale or circulation of the pre-print copy in countries such as the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
“The first leaked versions were uploaded on websites using IO domain extensions linked to the British Indian Ocean Territory. From there, they spread to multiple hosting platforms,” an official said.
Police are also examining the International Standard Book Number (ISBN), the 13-digit identifier visible on the leaked copies, and plan to question the publisher regarding its origin and usage.
Questions for Publisher
Officials said Penguin Random House India will be asked why it issued a public statement on social media only after the FIR was registered, and why it did not approach the police immediately after learning about the leak.
Investigators have found that a PDF version of the book, allegedly generated by the publisher, was available on several websites. Some online platforms even displayed the book’s cover, suggesting it was open for orders.
In response, Penguin Random House India clarified that it holds exclusive publishing rights to the memoir and that the book has not yet been officially released in any format.
Ongoing Investigation
Police believe the manner and scale of the leak point to a deliberate effort to circumvent defence clearance procedures. The investigation is continuing to determine the source of the breach and the extent of coordination involved.
