Maharashtra Set for Major Police Leadership Shift: IPS Sadanand Date, the 26/11 Hero Poised to Become the State’s Next DGP – Full Profile, Career Milestones & Selection Process
Maharashtra is preparing for a significant change at the top of its police hierarchy, as the state government has moved forward with its proposal to appoint IPS officer Sadanand Vasant Date, currently the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), as the next Director General of Police (DGP). The formal recommendation—seeking approval for a two-year fixed tenure—has already been forwarded to the central government, paving the way for one of India’s most respected counter-terror experts to take charge.
A Leadership Transition with Long-Term Impact
If the appointment is approved, Date will replace DGP Rashmi Shukla, who is due to retire on December 31, 2025. His term would extend until December 2026, ensuring administrative continuity at a time when Maharashtra faces evolving challenges in crime control, cyber policing, and counter-terror operations.
Since March 27, 2024, Date has been serving as the Director General of the NIA, where he has overseen high-stakes terrorism investigations across the country. His shift from the nation’s premier anti-terror probe agency to leading one of India’s largest police forces signals the government’s confidence in his strategic and operational abilities.
From National Security to State Command
As Maharashtra’s DGP, Sadanand Date will be responsible for steering a force of over 2 lakh personnel, coordinating statewide law-and-order management, modernising policing systems, strengthening cyber surveillance, and enhancing preparedness against terrorism and organised crime—areas in which he already holds decades of experience.
Seven Senior IPS Officers Considered for the Post
The selection process for the state’s top policing position began months ago. On October 31, 2025, the Maharashtra government forwarded a list of seven senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). After examining service records, integrity profiles, and seniority criteria, the UPSC shortlisted a panel of three names, from which the state selected Date.
Officers initially under consideration included:
Sadanand Date (IPS 1990, Maharashtra cadre) – DG, NIA
Sanjay Verma (IPS 1990)
Ritesh Kumar (IPS 1992)
Sanjeev Kumar Singhal (IPS 1992)
Archana Tyagi (IPS 1993)
Sanjeev Kumar (IPS 1993)
Prashant Burde (IPS 1993)
Date emerged as the most senior and widely recommended candidate. His retirement scheduled for December 2026 gives the government the flexibility to appoint him for a stable two-year term—another factor that worked in his favour.
Who Is Sadanand Date? – Early Life, Education & Rise in Service
Born on December 14, 1966, in Pune, Sadanand Date’s journey into the police service is marked by determination and grit. Coming from a financially constrained background, he supported his education by selling newspapers as a child, a detail often cited to illustrate his perseverance.
He joined the IPS in 1990 and went on to build a reputation for integrity, investigation skills, and courageous on-ground action.
Academic & Professional Qualifications
Master’s in Commerce
PhD in Economic Offences, University of Pune
Cost and Management Accountant (CMA)
Humphrey Fellow at the University of Minnesota, specializing in organised crime and white-collar investigations
His rare blend of field experience and academic expertise has made him a go-to officer in cases involving complex financial crimes, economic offences, and terrorism networks.
Hero of the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks
Sadanand Date’s exemplary courage during the 2008 Mumbai attacks is a defining chapter of his career. Serving then as the Additional Commissioner of Police (Central Region), he led the first police response team to the Cama and Albless Hospitals, where women, children, and medical staff were trapped.
Despite being hit by grenade shrapnel and sustaining serious injuries, Date continued directing the operation, radioing the positions of terrorists, and ensuring civilians were moved to safety. He fought until he lost consciousness.
His actions helped contain the attackers in the area and prevented far greater casualties.
For this extraordinary display of bravery, he was conferred with the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, placing him among the most respected operational officers in the country.
Key Leadership Roles Held by Sadanand Date
Over his three-decade career, Date has held some of the most sensitive postings in Indian policing:
Deputy Inspector General, CBI
Inspector General (Operations), CRPF
Commissioner of Police, Mira-Bhayandar & Vasai-Virar
Director General, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra
Head, MBVV Commissionerate (first commissioner to build the system from scratch)
Director General, NIA
During his time with Mumbai Police, he established:
A dedicated social media surveillance lab
A Special Branch training centre
Multiple community policing initiatives
His track record reflects both operational excellence and long-term institution-building.
Central Deputation & National Assignments
Date has also contributed significantly in central roles:
Deployed in Naxal-hit regions of Chhattisgarh
Senior assignments in the CRPF
Served in the Union Ministry of Law
Key leadership in national-level anti-terror coordination
These stints broadened his expertise across counter-insurgency, national security law, and crisis management—skills highly relevant to the Maharashtra DGP role.
A Career Defined by Courage, Reform & Public Service
Sadanand Date is widely regarded as one of India’s most accomplished IPS officers—a rare combination of frontline bravery, investigative precision, and policy insight. His expected appointment as Maharashtra’s next DGP is viewed as a strategic move to strengthen the state’s security apparatus at a time when cybercrime, extremist threats, and organised syndicates continue to evolve.
If approved, his leadership will likely shape Maharashtra’s policing landscape for years to come.
