NEW DELHI, India, February 12 (ANI): The Delhi Police Special Cell has questioned officials of Penguin India for two consecutive days in connection with the alleged leak of former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane’s book, sources said Thursday.
According to sources, the questioning lasted several hours on both days, with investigators seeking detailed information regarding the handling and circulation of the manuscript and its digital files. Officials indicated that representatives of the publishing house may be summoned again as the probe continues.
Sources in the Special Cell said the investigation is proceeding along two separate lines.
The first line of inquiry pertains to a PDF version of the book that allegedly surfaced prior to its official release. During an examination of the available PDF file, investigators found that the field typically containing the printer’s name was left blank. This has led authorities to suspect that the file may have been leaked before it was sent for printing.
Police have sought detailed information from Penguin India about the movement of the PDF file, including the stages it passed through before final printing, the number of individuals who had access to it, and whether it was shared online or offline.
Sources said the publishing house has requested time to compile the relevant data, noting that the publication process had been underway for nearly three years.
The second line of investigation concerns a hard copy of the book that was displayed by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Parliament. It was also claimed that the book was available overseas and online. The Special Cell is examining the origin and circulation of that hard copy as part of its ongoing probe.
Investigators are analyzing the responses submitted by Penguin India to determine whether the alleged leak was the result of negligence in handling the manuscript or part of a larger conspiracy.
Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation, sources added. (ANI)
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