Sanjeev Khirwar, the 1994-batch IAS officer who became the centre of a major controversy after allegations that his dog-walking routine affected athletes’ training at Delhi’s Thyagaraj Stadium, is facing renewed public scrutiny.
Khirwar is now Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), one of the key civic authorities responsible for municipal administration, including building-related regulation and enforcement. His current posting has drawn attention after a five-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, killing seven people and injuring several others.
The tragedy has prompted questions over civic oversight in the area, with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) demanding Khirwar’s resignation. However, there is no allegation in the information available that Khirwar personally ordered or caused the construction of the collapsed structure.
From a Dog-Walking Controversy to Delhi’s Municipal Corporation
Khirwar first became widely known outside bureaucratic circles in May 2022 after an investigation by The Indian Express reported that athletes and coaches at the Delhi government-run Thyagaraj Stadium were allegedly being asked to end their training by around 7 pm.
The report linked the early closure of the facility to Khirwar, who was then Delhi’s Principal Secretary (Revenue), allegedly using the stadium premises to walk his dog.
The controversy quickly generated public outrage, particularly because the facility was meant to support athletes and sporting activities.
Khirwar denied that athletes were being forced to leave because of his dog walks. He acknowledged taking his pet to the stadium but maintained that it did not interfere with training. The stadium administration also disputed the allegations, saying its scheduled training hours ended at 7 pm.
The controversy nevertheless led to the Delhi government extending the operating hours of its sports facilities until 10 pm.
The Centre later transferred Khirwar to Ladakh. His wife and fellow 1994-batch IAS officer Rinku Dugga was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh. Dugga was subsequently compulsorily retired by the government.
Then Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had also criticised the reported incident, describing it as “shameful” and stressing that athletes should not face disruption to their training.
Who Is Sanjeev Khirwar?
A member of the AGMUT cadre, Khirwar has spent more than three decades in government service and has held several senior administrative assignments.
He began his career as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate in Chandigarh before taking up various positions in Delhi and other Union Territories. His career also included a stint in the Commerce Ministry and service as Private Secretary to then Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath between 2009 and 2014.
In Delhi, Khirwar has served in departments including health, environment, general administration and revenue. Before his 2022 transfer, he was Principal Secretary (Revenue) and Divisional Commissioner.
Khirwar holds a B.Tech in Computer Science from IIT Delhi and a master’s degree in Economics.
Khirwar Returns to Delhi as MCD Commissioner
Four years after the Thyagaraj Stadium controversy, Khirwar returned to Delhi in a powerful civic administration role.
In January 2026, the Union Home Ministry appointed him Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The appointment was notified on January 21.
As MCD Commissioner, Khirwar oversees the functioning of Delhi’s civic body, which has responsibilities ranging from sanitation and public infrastructure to building regulation, inspections and enforcement.
That role has now placed him under the spotlight following the Satya Niketan tragedy.
Satya Niketan Building Collapse Raises Civic Oversight Questions
The five-storey structure that collapsed in Satya Niketan was being used as a paying guest accommodation.
Reports have indicated that the building was a Ground+4 structure in a resettlement colony, despite the earlier permission reportedly being limited to Ground+1. It has also been reported that there was no approved building plan for the structure.
The building came down during repair-related activity, trapping people inside. Seven people were ultimately reported dead, while several others were rescued and injured.
The tragedy has triggered scrutiny of construction practices, building permissions and municipal enforcement in the area.
The MCD subsequently suspended five officials, including the South Zone Deputy Commissioner and four engineers, as authorities began examining possible lapses.
Khirwar has said that the civic body had already taken demolition-related action in the area and that several structures had been identified for action. He also said the building adjoining the collapsed structure had become weakened and would be demolished in a controlled manner.
ABVP Demands Khirwar’s Resignation
The collapse has nevertheless turned the spotlight towards the MCD’s senior leadership.
ABVP activists protested outside the MCD headquarters and demanded Khirwar’s resignation, arguing that the deadly incident raised serious questions about civic monitoring and enforcement.
The demand has brought Khirwar’s name back into the political and public spotlight, years after the Thyagaraj Stadium controversy.
However, the circumstances surrounding the Satya Niketan building, including alleged violations of construction permissions and any possible administrative lapses, remain matters for investigation. The suspension of five MCD officials also indicates that authorities are examining whether there were failures in monitoring or enforcement.
A Controversial Career Back in the Spotlight
Khirwar’s career has now entered another high-profile phase.
In 2022, his name became nationally recognisable because of an unusual controversy involving an IAS officer, a government stadium and a dog walk. Four years later, his position as Delhi’s municipal commissioner has put him in the spotlight for an entirely different reason — a deadly building collapse that has raised questions about building safety and civic accountability.
The Satya Niketan tragedy is therefore likely to keep attention focused on the MCD’s regulatory mechanisms, the enforcement of building rules and the chain of responsibility surrounding unsafe structures in Delhi.
