he Supreme Court directed the appointment of DGPs for two years to prevent political interference in the functioning of state police chiefs (File Photo)
The Maharashtra Government Wednesday appointed former National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Dr Sadanand Vasant Date as the director general of police (DGP). Date’s appointment comes as the tenure of the incumbent DGP Rashmi Shukla comes to an end on January 3.
The move was largely expected, as the Maharashtra government had sought the repatriation of Date from his role as the NIA chief in Delhi. In line with the Supreme Court guidelines in the 2006 Prakash Singh judgement, Date, a 1990-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, will remain on the post for two years, even though he is due to retire in December 2026.
The Supreme Court directed the appointment of DGPs for two years to prevent political interference in the functioning of state police chiefs. Shukla, too, had a two-year tenure, though she had only six months left when she was appointed DGP in January 2024.
Date, who was recently overseeing the probe in the Delhi car blasts case as the NIA chief, is known as an officer with a clean image. He was one of the officers who had taken on the terrorists during the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008. His bravery and presence of mind led to the rescue of hostages at the Cama and Albless hospital for women and children. He was later awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry.
Date, who has in the past served as chief of the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), was the first commissioner of the newly formed Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar (MBVV) police commissionerate that came up in 2020, joint commissioner of police (law and order) and later joint commissioner of the crime branch in Mumbai city.
Date, who hails from a humble household in Pune, holds a doctorate from Pune University. He is also a qualified cost and management accountant from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI).
Officers who have worked with him recall Date as a workaholic and a thorough officer who would sometimes arrive at the office before working hours to review case files and be available to meet people.
Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems.
Experience & Authority
Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field.
Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus.
Key Beats:
Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force.
Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict.
Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations.
Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed.
Credentials & Trustworthiness
Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order.
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