New Delhi [India], February 10 (HBTV): Penguin Random House India on Monday clarified that it holds the sole publishing rights for Four Stars of Destiny, a memoir by former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane, and said the book has not gone into publication.
In a statement issued on X, the publisher said no copies of the book, either in print or digital form, have been published, distributed, sold, or made available to the public.
The publisher stated, ‘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.’
Penguin Random House India warned that any copies currently in circulation, in any format or on any platform, amount to copyright infringement and must be immediately ceased. It added that it would exercise all remedies available under law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book.
‘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. Penguin Random House India shall be exercising remedies available in law against the illegal and unauthorised dissemination of the book,’ the statement said.
The publisher added that the clarification was being issued to place its position on record.
A political controversy erupted after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought to quote from what he described as a pre-print version of the memoir during his speech in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address last week, with treasury benches strongly objecting to his remarks. Following repeated adjournments, the House adopted the motion of thanks by voice vote amid sloganeering.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police has taken cognisance of information circulating on social media platforms and news forums claiming that a pre-print copy of Four Stars of Destiny is being shared. The Special Cell has registered a case into the purported leak or breach of a yet-to-be-approved publication.
Police officials said an investigation has been initiated into claims regarding the availability of a pre-print copy of the book.
(ANI)