This is the second time that the 1994-batch IAS officer, who took charge as the MCD Commissioner in January this year, returned to the spotlight after the 2022 Thyagraj Stadium controversy that saw him transferred out of Delhi.

This is the second time that the 1994-batch IAS officer, who took charge as the MCD Commissioner in January this year, returned to the spotlight after the 2022 Thyagraj Stadium controversy that saw him transferred out of Delhi.

This is the second time that the 1994-batch IAS officer, who took charge as the MCD Commissioner in January this year, returned to the spotlight after the 2022 Thyagraj Stadium controversy that saw him transferred out of Delhi.

With at least seven dead and five injured so far after the collapse of a hostel building in Delhi's Satya Niketan area, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar is facing fresh calls to resign.

This is the second time that the 1994-batch IAS officer, who took charge as the MCD Commissioner in January this year, returned to the spotlight after the 2022 Thyagraj Stadium controversy that saw him transferred out of Delhi.

Amid the backlash and scrutiny against the MCD over unsafe paying guest (PG) accommodations across the NCR, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on Monday announced that the corporation's Deputy Commissioner, Executive Engineer, Superintending Engineer, Assistant Engineer, and Junior Engineer had been suspended with immediate effect.

The Delhi High Court also lashed out at the MCD and Delhi University over the tragedy, which it called "most unfortunate", asking that rescue efforts be doubled. It has also sought a response from them in 10 days.

The calls for resignation have mainly come from student political groups like the ABVP and the NSUI, while the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Opposition has called for a larger structural overhaul due to the what they call the MCD and Delhi government's negligence.

In fact, about 150-200 ABVP protesters had even gathered at the MCD office in Civic Centre on Sunday to demand Khirwar's resignation. This led to heavy police deployment in the area for a while, as the protesters clashed with the police and other teams present, vandalising parts of the office as well.

The Delhi Police then detained around 15 students, after which they were taken to the PS Kamla Market, where action under the Delhi Police Act was initiated, while the rest were dispersed.

The 2022 controversy

During Khirwar's tenure as Delhi’s Principal Secretary (Revenue), athletes and coaches alleged that they were being asked to end their training at New Delhi's Thyagraj Stadium at around 7 PM—earlier than they normally did—because Khirwar would arrive later to walk his dog.

Though he had rejected the “absolutely incorrect" claims, the issue still spiralled out of control, leading to his tranfer to Ladakh, while his wife, IAS officer Rinku Dugga, was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh.

After serving senior administrative posts in Ladakh, he made a significant comeback to Delhi this year, only to be hit by controversy again.

Political commentator Tehseen Poonawalla has also taken to X to call for a candlelight march to demand Khirwar’s resignation following the Delhi tragedy.

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