Delhi Police have opened an investigation into the alleged online spread of an unpublished book written by former Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane, following reports that a digital copy has surfaced on social media and commercial platforms.

In an official update released on Monday, authorities confirmed that they have taken note of claims suggesting that a pre-publication version of the book, titled Four Stars of Destiny, is being circulated without the required approvals from the Ministry of Defence.

The case was registered shortly after media reports highlighted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had obtained access to the unpublished manuscript, which was reportedly not authorised for public release. Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had stated that the book was not officially in existence.

Police officials said preliminary checks revealed that a typeset PDF version of the book—apparently linked to Penguin Random House India—has been found on certain websites. Additionally, some online retail platforms were reportedly displaying the book’s cover, giving the impression that it was available for sale despite lacking formal clearance.

The Special Cell has now been assigned to investigate the suspected unauthorised leak or breach related to the manuscript, and a detailed probe is underway to determine how the content was accessed and distributed.

The controversy has also taken on a political dimension. Rahul Gandhi was recently seen holding what appeared to be a copy of the book within the Parliament complex, sparking heated debate. The fallout from the issue led to disruptions in Lok Sabha proceedings and resulted in the suspension of eight Members of Parliament for the remainder of the Budget session.

On Monday, Gandhi further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoided addressing the House during discussions on the President’s address, claiming the Prime Minister was reluctant to confront questions surrounding the former Army chief’s book.