Centre appoints Maharashtra ATS chief Sadanand Date as NIA director general

In an order, issued on March 26, the deputy secretary in the Central Government said “Appointment of Date, a 1990-batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, from the date of joining the post, for a tenure up to his superannuation on December 31, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”

Date was among the first few officers who reached one of the places on the night of November 26, 2008, when Mumbai was under attack by 10 terrorists, and engaged in a counter-operation and got injured during the exchange of fire.

His bravery and presence of mind in the extreme conditions led to the rescue of many citizens who were held hostage by Abu Ismail and Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist that Mumbai police managed to nab alive. The senior police officer was later awarded the President’s police medal for gallantry.

Date had earlier told The Indian Express, “The 26/11 attack remains the most challenging event of my career, and it will stay with me life-long. I tried to do whatever was best to my ability.”

Date also worked as a DIG in the Central Bureau of Investigation and IG (ops) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). He also held the post of commissioner of police of Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar city near Mumbai.

The ACC has also appointed Rajeev Kumar Sharma, a 1990-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre. “Appointment of Sharma as Director General, Bureau of Police Research & Development, from the date of joining the post, for a tenure up to his superannuation on June 30, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” the order states.

Sharma currently heads the Anti-Corruption Branch in Rajasthan and had earlier served as the DGP (Law and Order), Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

The ACC has also appointed Piyush Anand, a 1991-batch IPS of Uttar Pradesh cadre and the current Special DG in the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). “Appointment of Piyush Anand as Director General, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) by temporarily upgrading the post of DG, NDRF to the level of DG on personal basis for a period of two years from the date of joining the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” the order states.