Who is Sanjeev Khirwar? MCD chief involved in 'dog-walking row' in focus after Satya Niketan building collapse

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner, Sanjeev Khirwar, is facing calls for resignation after a building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan led to the death of at least seven individuals.

In the wake of the tragedy, both civil and student groups have been questioning the record of the MCD under Khirwar in tackling unsafe as well as unauthorised constructions in the city.

“We had a protest yesterday at the MCD office as well, and we demanded the resignation of the MCD Commissioner. We are all sitting here, and we are demanding accountability. What is the actual standard of student safety on the campus?” asked ABVP's National Social Media Convenor Prerna Bhardwaj, as per an ANI report.

In this context, let us take a look at the profile of Sanjeev Khirwar:

Who is Sanjeev Khirwar?

Sanjeev Khirwar is an IAS officer of the 1994 batch of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territories) cadre.

He was made the Chairman of the MCD in January 2026. This was his return to Delhi after a period of three years. Earlier, he was transferred out of the city following the episode at the Thyagraj Stadium in 2022 when he was the Delhi state government's Principal Secretary (Revenue).

It was alleged that coaches and players were asked to end their training sessions at the stadium by 7 PM because Khirwar would be arriving with his dog on the premises.

“We used to train till 8-8.30 PM under lights earlier. But now, we are asked to leave the ground by 7 PM so that the officer can walk his dog on the ground," a coach had told The Indian Express when the incident occurred.

Khirwar had then rejected the allegations, although he did admit that he used to take his dog to the facility.

After this incident, the then Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, ordered all sports facilities under the Delhi government to remain open until 10 PM while Khirwar was transferred to Ladakh, where he served in a number of senior administrative positions.

From 2009 to 2014, he served as the private secretary to the central government's minister for Women and Child Development. Khirwar has also served in various positions in Goa, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh and other areas of the AGMUT cadre, India Today reported.

What did Sanjeev Khirwar say in the wake of Satya Niketan tragedy?

Khirwar, when asked about the status of unauthorised buildings in Delhi, told ANI that while exact figures are unavailable, the MCD regularly carries out identification and demolition exercises.

"We don't have the exact figures. A regular identification is conducted. In the last three months, 960 demolitions were carried out, 407 buildings were sealed, and notices were served to 1,500 buildings for sealing and demolition. This is a regular process to take action against unauthorised construction," he said.