MCD Chief Sanjeev Khirwar Under Fire After Satya Niketan Collapse
MCD commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar faces resignation demands after Satya Niketan collapse killed seven. He cites 960 demolitions, 407 seals in three months.
Sanjeev Khirwar, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner since January 2026, is at the centre of political and public pressure following the Satya Niketan building collapse that claimed at least seven lives.
A 1994-batch IAS officer, Khirwar has come under scrutiny not only for the civic body's response to the tragedy but also for a separate controversy involving a dog-walking incident that had previously drawn attention.
In the wake of the collapse, opposition leaders and local residents have demanded his resignation, questioning the MCD's enforcement of building safety norms in the capital.
Responding to the criticism, Khirwar stated that the MCD has carried out 960 demolition actions and sealed 407 buildings over the past three months, signalling an aggressive push against unauthorised constructions.
The disclosure, however, has done little to quell the anger over the loss of life, with critics arguing that such enforcement should have prevented the collapse altogether.
The incident has reignited the debate over the effectiveness of Delhi's civic administration and the accountability of its top bureaucrats in ensuring structural safety and compliance with building regulations.