MHA Transfers ‘Dog Walker’ IAS Officer Over Misuse Of Power

Hours after a news report regarding the misuse of facilities at the city’s Thyagraj Stadium by Sanjeev Khirwar and his wife Rinku Dugga, the Ministry of Home Affairs transferred both the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre IAS officers out of Delhi as punishment to their act.

Khirwar, who stirred up controversy for walking his dog at the Delhi government-run Thyagraj Stadium after athletes were forced to finish practice earlier than usual, has been transferred to Ladakh while his wife has been transferred to Arunachal Pradesh.

The MHA took the action soon after Delhi Chief Secretary submitted a report to it in the evening on the factual position of the news report.

“The MHA had sought a report from Chief Secretary, Delhi on the news report regarding the misuse of facilities at Thyagraj Stadium by Sanjeev Khirwar and his wife Rinku Dugga. Chief Secretary, Delhi submitted a report later in the evening on the factual position to MHA. In the meanwhile, Khirwar has been transferred by MHA to Ladakh and Dhugga to Arunachal Pradesh. Necessary action will be initiated based on the report,” said MHA sources.

A 1994-batch IAS officer Khirwar was posted in Delhi as the Principal Secretary (Revenue) and the Divisional Commissioner. District Magistrates and Sub-Divisional Magistrates report to the Divisional Commissioner. He also held additional charge of the Environment Secretary in the Delhi government.

Khirwar served as the Private Secretary to the Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath between 2009 and 2014. He was then posted in the Commerce ministry and was transferred to Delhi in 2018 as the Secretary, of Health and Family Welfare. Over the past few years, he has been posted in the environment, general administration and revenue departments.

Khirwar came into controversy after a news report in which athletes and coaches training at Thyagraj Stadium in Delhi alleged that they were asked to wrap up training earlier than usual, by 7 pm as the IAS officer had to walk his dog there.

As a photo and a video about the IAS officer and his wife walking with a dog went viral, the MHA took action against them following a report from Delhi’s Chief Secretary. (ANI)