IAS Officer Sanjeev Khirwar, Who Was Shunted Out Over Dog Walk Row, Returns As Delhi MCD Chief

Sanjeev Khirwar’s appointment as Delhi’s Municipal Commissioner marks one of the most dramatic bureaucratic comebacks in recent years. The 1994-batch IAS officer was moved out of Delhi in 2022 after a storm erupted over allegations that athletes were asked to vacate Thyagaraj Stadium early so he and his wife could walk their dog. While officials denied wrongdoing, public outrage over the use of a public sports facility proved costly. Khirwar was shifted to Ladakh, where he quietly managed crucial portfolios like health and medical education. Now back in Delhi after an MHA reshuffle, he takes charge of an MCD battling financial strain, stalled civic projects and a worsening stray animal crisis. His return reopens uncomfortable questions about accountability, privilege and redemption in India’s administrative system.