MCD has a new commissioner after a reshuffle. This would not have generated as much traction on social media and in the news if it wasn’t for the IAS officer who takes charge as MCD and his alleged impropriety in the not-so-distant past. We are talking about IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar, who hit the headlines in 2022 for allegedly clearing out the entire Thyagaraj stadium of all the athletes who were practicing there only because ‘sahib’ wanted to walk his dog.
From incognito mode to in the spotlight
Sanjeev Khirwar is a 1994-batch IAS officer belonging to the AGMUT cadre (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories). Over the years, he has held several senior administrative positions across different regions. At the time of the controversy, he was serving as Principal Secretary (Revenue) in the Delhi government, a post that carries significant authority over land, revenue, and administrative coordination in the capital.
His return to a key administrative position in the national capital has drawn attention because it comes more than three years after he was removed from Delhi following a public controversy.
The 2022 Thyagaraj Stadium Controversy
In 2022, Khirwar became the centre of a major controversy after allegations surfaced that the Thyagaraj Stadium was being cleared of athletes before scheduled closing time to allow him to walk his pet dog. Athletes and coaches claimed that training sessions were disrupted, leading to widespread public criticism.
On May 26, 2022, The Indian Express reported that Thyagaraj Stadium in Delhi, a key training venue for young athletes, was allegedly being shut earlier than scheduled to facilitate dog-walking by Sanjeev Khirwar. “Earlier, we trained till 8–8.30 pm under floodlights, but now we are asked to vacate the ground by 7 pm so that the officer can walk his dog. Our training and practice routine has been disrupted,” The Indian Express quoted a coach as saying.
Khirwar rejected the allegations, calling them “absolutely incorrect.” While he acknowledged that he occasionally took his pet for walks at the stadium, he denied that this led to any disruption of sporting activities. Following the controversy, then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed that all state-run sports facilities in the capital remain open for sportspersons until 10 pm.
The incident raised serious questions about misuse of official position, sensitivity towards public stakeholders, and ethical behaviour of civil servants. Following public outrage and media scrutiny, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered Khirwar’s transfer out of Delhi, and he was posted to Ladakh. His wife, Rinku Dugga, was also transferred to Arunachal Pradesh.
Now he’s back in the capital as the MCD Commissioner