IAS couple shunted to Ladakh & Arunachal for misuse of stadium

State-run sports facilities to stay open till 10 pm: CM

In a swift action, the Centre Thursday shunted IAS couple Sanjeev Khirwar and Anu Dugga to Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh respectively following media reports suggesting misuse of official position by them, officials said here. In an order, the home ministry said Khirwar, a 1994-batch IAS officer from AGMUT cadre, is shifted to Ladakh and his wife to Arunachal Pradesh with immediate effect.

According to official sources, the home ministry had sought a report from the Delhi chief secretary on the news report regarding the misuse of facilities at Thyagraj Stadium by Khirwar and his wife.

The chief secretary submitted a report to the ministry of home affairs in the evening on the factual position, prompting the ministry to order their transfer, they said.

The sources said that necessary action will be initiated based on the report.

Khirwar is currently posted as Principal Secretary (Revenue) in Delhi.

It was alleged in the media report that the Thyagraj Stadium was being closed for sports activities earlier than usual so that Khirwar could walk his dog at the facility.

Meanwhile, The Delhi government has directed all state-run sports facilities in the city to stay open for sportspersons till 10 pm, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday.

“It has come to my notice that sportspersons are facing problems because of the heat and the stadiums get closed by 6 or 7 pm. We are issuing instructions that all sports facilities should remain open till 10 pm so that sportspersons can use them,” he told reporters here.

The direction comes following a media report that the Thyagraj Stadium was being closed for sports activities earlier than usual so that an IAS officer could walk his dog at the facility.

Earlier, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said Kejriwal had directed all staterun sports facilities in the city to stay open for sportspersons till 10 pm.

Tagging the media report, Mr Sisodia said in a tweet: “News reports have brought to our notice that certain sports facilities are being closed early causing inconvenience to sportsmen who wish to play till late nite (night). CM @ArvindKejriwal has directed that all Delhi Govt sports facilities to stay open for sportsmen till 10pm.”

During a media interaction, newly appointed Delhi lieutenant-governor Vinai Kumar Saxena was asked about the matter, but he did not comment anything on the issue.