In a significant administrative move, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday appointed senior IPS officer Sadanand Vasant Date as the new Director General of Police (DGP) for the state. The 59-year-old officer, a 1990-batch IPS officer, will take over the reins from Rashmi Shukla, who is set to retire on January 3.
A Hero Takes Command at Critical Juncture
Sadanand Date is widely celebrated for his exceptional bravery during the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. At that time, serving as the Additional Commissioner of Police for the Central Region, he led a police team that confronted Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail on the rooftop of Cama Hospital. During the intense firefight, Date sustained serious injuries from grenade splinters but continued to engage the terrorists. For this act of gallantry, he was honoured with the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry.
His appointment comes at a crucial time for Maharashtra, which is currently in the midst of local body elections, making the maintenance of law and order a top priority for the police force of over two lakh personnel. Date will serve a fixed two-year term as the police chief.
Vast Policing Experience Across State and Centre
Date brings to the table a rich and diverse portfolio of experience spanning both state and central agencies. His return to the state cadre was marked by a premature repatriation from central deputation, where he was serving as the chief of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Within Maharashtra, his career highlights include serving in the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and becoming the first Commissioner of Police for the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police commissionerate. In Mumbai, he has held the pivotal posts of Joint Commissioner of Police for both Law and Order and Crime.
At the national level, Date's expertise has been utilized in premier investigative and paramilitary forces. He has served as Deputy Inspector General in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and as Inspector General (Operations) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Scholar and a Warrior with Permanent 'Medals'
Adding an academic dimension to his formidable policing career, Sadanand Date holds a doctorate in Economic Offences from Pune University. This scholarly background is expected to complement his hands-on experience in tackling complex crimes.
Even today, the officer carries physical reminders of his bravery from the 26/11 night—metal splinters embedded in his body, including one near his eye. In a poignant reflection, Date has often referred to these not as injuries but as "medals" from a war zone, symbolizing his enduring commitment to duty.
His leadership is now awaited as he steps into one of the most challenging policing roles in the country, steering the massive Maharashtra police force through a period of electoral activity and beyond.
