26/11 Hero Sadanand Date Appointed Maharashtra DGP, To Take Charge On January 3
Mumbai: Sadanand Vasant Date, a soft-spoken but firm officer decorated for his role during the 26/11 terror attacks, was on Wednesday named the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra. The 59-year-old Indian Police Service officer from the 1990 batch will take over from Rashmi Shukla, who retires on January 3. He will serve a fixed two-year term as chief of the Maharashtra Police, a force of more than two lakh personnel.
Date’s elevation comes soon after his premature repatriation from central deputation, where he was heading the National Investigation Agency (NIA). On November 26, 2008, during the Mumbai terror attacks, he was posted as Additional Commissioner of Police (Central Region). He led a police team that cornered Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail on the rooftop of Cama Hospital and, despite being badly wounded by grenade splinters, continued to engage them. For his bravery, he was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry.
Date still carries metal fragments from that night in his body, including one near his eye, which he refers to as “medals” from a war zone rather than mere injuries. Over the years, he has built extensive experience across state and central agencies, serving in the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and as the first Commissioner of Police for Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar.
He has also held key posts in Mumbai Police as Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) and Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). At the central level, he has worked as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Inspector General (Operations) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Holding a doctorate in Economic Offences from Pune University, Date takes charge at a sensitive time for Maharashtra’s law and order apparatus, with local body elections underway in the state.