Naravane memoir row: Book deliberately leaked without MoD clearance, alleges Delhi Police

Delhi: A political and legal storm has erupted over the yet-to-be-released memoir of former Army Chief General (Retd.) Manoj Mukund Naravane, with the Delhi Police Special Cell registering a First Information Report (FIR) over what it describes as a “coordinated and premature circulation” of the book.

The controversy centers on Naravane’s memoir, which reportedly contains details related to the 2020 India-China Galwan Valley clash — one of the most serious military confrontations between the two countries in recent decades. According to investigators, the manuscript was allegedly distributed and made accessible in several foreign markets before completing the mandatory clearance procedures required by the Ministry of Defence.

Police sources claim that digital and commercial traces suggest the book was available for purchase or pre-order in countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia prior to its formal release in India. Authorities suspect that the circulation may have occurred without the necessary approvals typically required for publications dealing with sensitive military matters.

Based on these findings, the Special Cell has invoked provisions related to criminal conspiracy and launched a wider probe that may involve international coordination. Officials indicated that they are examining whether there was any deliberate attempt to bypass established defence protocols.

In response to the growing controversy, Penguin Random House India (PRHI), the publisher of the memoir, issued a clarification stating that listing a title for pre-order or announcing it publicly does not amount to an official publication. The publishing house asserted that the book has not been formally released and emphasized that it retains exclusive publishing rights.

The Delhi Police has also issued a formal notice to PRHI, seeking detailed explanations regarding the alleged early circulation. Representatives of the publishing house have been asked to cooperate with the investigation.

The issue has spilled into Parliament as well. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was recently seen holding a copy of the memoir inside the Lok Sabha. Proceedings have witnessed disruptions after he was reportedly prevented from citing portions of an article based on excerpts from the unpublished manuscript that referenced the 2020 India-China tensions.