NIA chief Sadanand Date sent back to Maharashtra, likely to become next DGP before BMC elections

Ankita Jain,

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The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Monday, December 22, approved the transfer back of IPS officer Sadanand Vasant Date, who currently heads the National Investigation Agency (NIA), to his parent cadre, Maharashtra, with immediate effect.

Date, a 1990-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Maharashtra cadre, is expected to take charge as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, replacing Rashmi Shukla, whose tenure ends on December 31.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs for premature repatriation of Sadanand Vasant Date to his parent cadre with immediate effect,” the Center said in an order.

Date is a decorated officer known for his bravery during the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks, where he led the rescue operation at Cama and Albless Hospital and saved several hostages. He was later awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry for his actions.

He has held several key positions, including chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and commissioner of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police commissionerate, which was established in 2020, joint commissioner (law and order), and joint commissioner of the crime branch in Mumbai.

Date holds a doctorate degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. He is also a qualified Cost and Management Accountant from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI).

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With Shukla’s term ending, Date is the frontrunner to become the new DGP, who can complete a two-year tenure as the state police chief till December 2027. The MHA had received a request from the Maharashtra government to send back the date, and his appointment is being seen as a strategic move ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections in January.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections 2026 will be held on January 15 and the counting of votes will take place on January 16. Apart from the BMC elections, 28 other municipal corporations in Maharashtra will also go to polls on January 15.

India News