Sanjeev Khirwar faces renewed scrutiny after deadly Delhi building collapse

Synopsis

Sanjeev Khirwar is facing renewed scrutiny following a deadly building collapse in Delhi. Student organisations have demanded his resignation, alleging lapses in civic oversight. The five-storey building collapse killed seven people and left several others injured. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, including possible regulatory violations or civic negligence. The Delhi government has suspended five MCD officials following the tragedy.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar is facing renewed scrutiny following the deadly building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area. Student organisations have demanded his resignation, alleging lapses in civic oversight after a five-storey building being used as a student paying guest accommodation collapsed, killing seven people and injuring others.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) protested outside the MCD headquarters and called for Khirwar’s resignation, while also raising concerns about the safety of student accommodations in the capital.

Who is Sanjeev Khirwar?

As per a TOI report, Sanjeev Khirwar is a 1994-batch IAS officer of the AGMUT cadre. He was appointed MCD commissioner in January 2026, succeeding Ashwani Kumar. Before returning to Delhi, Khirwar was transferred to Ladakh in 2022 following a controversy surrounding his alleged use of Thyagaraj Stadium for walking his dog.

His role as MCD commissioner has now come under fresh scrutiny following the Satya Niketan tragedy, particularly over questions surrounding building safety, unauthorised construction and civic enforcement.

Why is Sanjeev Khirwar facing calls for resignation?

Following the collapse, ABVP members demanded Khirwar’s resignation, alleging that the civic administration had failed to ensure adequate safety standards for students living in PG accommodations. The organisation also held a protest at the MCD headquarters.

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The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) also protested over the incident and raised questions about disaster preparedness and the handling of the rescue operation.

The demands come as authorities investigate what led to the collapse and whether regulatory or civic lapses contributed to the tragedy. The Delhi High Court has also sought an inquiry into the role of the MCD and other authorities.

What happened in the Satya Niketan building collapse?

The five-storey building in Satya Niketan was being used as a boys’ PG accommodation when it collapsed. Seven people have died in the incident, while several others were injured or rescued from the debris.

Preliminary reports have pointed to several possible factors, including the age of the building, ongoing repair work and water accumulation in the basement. The exact cause remains part of the investigation.

The Delhi government has suspended five MCD officials following the collapse, including officials from the engineering and building departments. A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered.

What did Sanjeev Khirwar say after the collapse?

Khirwar has defended the MCD’s action against unauthorised construction and said the civic body has a “zero tolerance” approach towards such violations.

Speaking about action taken in the area, he said, “In August, we had passed demolition orders for 3-4 buildings in the same area.” He also said that over the previous three months, 960 demolitions had been carried out, 407 buildings sealed and notices issued to 1,500 buildings for sealing and demolition.

He also said that an adjoining building had weakened and was being strengthened before being taken up for demolition in a calibrated manner.

What was the Sanjeev Khirwar dog-walking controversy?

Khirwar was previously in the headlines in 2022 over allegations that he used Delhi’s Thyagaraj Stadium to walk his dog and that athletes and coaches were asked to leave the facility earlier than usual.

Khirwar denied the allegations at the time, calling them “absolutely incorrect”. Following the controversy, he was transferred from Delhi to Ladakh, while his wife, IAS officer Rinku Dugga, was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh.

The controversy made Khirwar a widely recognised name beyond the civil services, and his return to Delhi as MCD commissioner earlier this year has now brought him back into the spotlight.

Sanjeev Khirwar and the MCD

The Satya Niketan collapse has prompted wider questions about the safety of old buildings and student PG accommodations in Delhi. The Delhi government has announced inspections and plans for stronger structural safety measures, while the Delhi High Court has directed the MCD to conduct a comprehensive inspection of PG accommodations under its jurisdiction.

For now, the focus remains on the ongoing investigation, accountability and whether any officials or property owners are found responsible for violations or negligence.

Inputs from TOI