LUCKNOW: Former IPS officer Rajesh Pandey, one of the 16 candidates interviewed for the post of chief executive officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, has issued a clarification over remarks made during a podcast that triggered controversy over the selection process.Pandey shared on X a thread along with the relevant portion of the podcast to explain the context in which his remarks were made.In the podcast, Pandey was asked about reports that certain candidates had figured among the top three in the selection process. He responded that, “I had seen such reports in newspapers but had no authentic or official information about who had made it to the final three.”Pandey also clarified his remarks concerning retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra, who was subsequently appointed CEO of the Ram Temple Trust.During the podcast conversation, when Mishra’s name came up, Pandey said, “Mishra might have been among the candidates but was not present on the day I appeared for the interview.”Pandey said his interview was held on August 11 and his observation was limited to the candidates he saw at the venue during his interview slot. He said, “My statement should not be interpreted as a claim that Mishra did not participate in the interview process.”Pandey further clarified that, “I had never claimed that myself was officially among the top three candidates.” According to him, “Information suggesting that I was among the final three had come from reports circulating in newspapers and on social media rather than any communication from the selection committee or the Trust.”
