Sanjeev Khirwar Appointed MCD Commissioner Despite 2022 Stadium Dog Controversy
Sanjeev Khirwar, who was shunted in 2022 over a stadium dog-walking row, is now appointed MCD Commissioner.
Senior IAS Officer Sanjeev Khirwar, who had faced nationwide criticism in 2022 over allegations that a Delhi stadium was cleared so he could walk his dog, has now been appointed as the new Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), marking a significant administrative comeback.
Khirwar, a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, was earlier shunted out of the national capital following the controversy linked to Thyagraj Stadium. At the time, he was serving as Delhi’s Principal Secretary (Revenue).
The controversy erupted after a report by The Indian Express on May 26, 2022, alleged that sports activities at Thyagraj Stadium—where young athletes regularly train—were being halted earlier than scheduled. The report claimed this was done to allow Khirwar to use the premises for walking his dog in the evenings.
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The allegations triggered widespread outrage, particularly from athletes, sports administrators, and the public, who criticised the alleged misuse of public infrastructure and authority. The issue also sparked a broader debate on accountability, privilege, and access to public spaces meant for sportspersons.
Following the backlash, Khirwar was transferred out of Delhi, while the Union government issued directions to ensure that stadiums and sports facilities were not closed arbitrarily and remained accessible to athletes. The incident became one of the most talked-about bureaucratic controversies of that year.
Khirwar’s appointment as MCD Commissioner now places him at the helm of one of India’s largest civic bodies, responsible for municipal governance in the national capital. His wife, Rinku Dugga, is also an IAS officer. The new role signals renewed trust by the government in his administrative capabilities, even as the 2022 episode continues to be remembered as a cautionary moment in public service conduct.
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