MCD chief Sanjeev Khirwar, who was at the centre of dog-walk row, in focus after Satya Niketan tragedy

Sanjeev Khirwar, the current Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner, is under intense criticism in the aftermath of a tragic building collapse at the Satya Niketan in Delhi, which claimed multiple lives. The incident has raised serious questions about the MCD's oversight of unauthorized and potentially hazardous constructions within the city.

Khirwar, a 1994 batch IAS officer belonging to the AGMUT cadre, assumed his role as MCD commissioner in January 2026. His return to Delhi came more than three years after he was transferred following the controversial incident at the Thyagraj Stadium in 2022. During this previous controversy, he was accused of causing athletes to leave the stadium prematurely so he could walk his dog. Khirwar was subsequently transferred to Ladakh, but has since made a significant comeback to his position as MCD commissioner.

Following the Satya Niketan collapse, a magisterial inquiry and First Information Report (FIR) were initiated, while several MCD officials, including senior engineering officers, were suspended. Responding to widespread concerns over unauthorized constructions, Khirwar stated to ANI that the MCD does not have an exact tally of such buildings.

However, he claimed that the civic body has been actively enforcing regulations, having conducted 960 demolitions, sealed 407 buildings, and issued notices to 1,500 other buildings for demolition or sealing in the past three months.

The Thyagraj Stadium controversy, which was a major point of contention for Khirwar in 2022, involves allegations that athletes were being asked to leave the stadium early as he visited it to walk his dog. Khirwar dismissed these allegations as "absolutely incorrect," adding that he did take his pet to the stadium but never interfered with the athletes' training. The controversy compelled then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to ensure that Delhi's sports facilities remained open until 10 pm.

Fact-checking efforts have revealed that a viral video purportedly showing people fleeing during the Satya Niketan building collapse was actually AI-generated. Khirwar's return as MCD commissioner has reignited debates regarding his administrative past and the current situation in Delhi. Protests have been organized by the ABVP and NSUI, while the ABVP and political commentator Tehseen Poonawalla have called for his immediate resignation in light of the Satya Niketan tragedy.