Overview
- The Trust issued a detailed statement on Monday saying retired Air Marshal Jeetendra (Jitendra) Mishra appeared for the face-to-face session on August 11 and that his name among the three recommended candidates is documentary proof of participation.
- The Search Committee, set up on July 6, told the Trust it handled 5,585 applications and used AI-assisted screening plus manual evaluation across Delhi NCR, Pune and Sambalpur before shortlisting 16 candidates for interviews in Ayodhya on August 11–12.
- Former candidate Rajesh Pandey’s podcast remark that he did not see Mishra during his own interview slot touched off social-media claims that Mishra skipped the process, but Pandey later said he never meant to say Mishra was not interviewed.
- Mishra has defended his suitability by citing his Air Force record of overseeing more than 50 service religious sites and media reports say he visited Ayodhya for the interviews and performed darshan during an August visit.
- Applicants including Amitabh Thakur have asked for more explanation and warned of legal action, senior officials reportedly pressed the Trust to clarify the record, and the Trust says it will make factual documentation available if further queries arise.