Sadanand Date, 26/11 Hero Who Captured Ajmal Kasab, Appointed Maharashtra’s Top Police Officer

Sadanand Vasant Date, a highly decorated Indian Police Service (IPS) officer widely respected for his courage during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was appointed as the new Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra on Wednesday. Known among colleagues as a firm yet compassionate leader, Date’s elevation marks a significant moment for the state’s police force.

The 59-year-old officer belongs to the 1990 IPS batch and will succeed outgoing DGP Rashmi Shukla, who is set to retire on January 3. With this appointment, Date will head the Maharashtra Police for a fixed tenure of two years.

As DGP, Date will oversee one of the largest police forces in the country, comprising more than two lakh personnel, at a time when Maharashtra faces evolving law-and-order and security challenges.

Date’s appointment comes after his premature repatriation from the Centre, where he was serving as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). His return to the state is seen as a move to bring experienced leadership to Maharashtra’s top police post.

Among police officers and the general public alike, Sadanand Date is remembered as one of the heroes of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed the lives of over 160 people and left the nation shaken.

On the night of November 26, 2008, Date was serving as the Additional Commissioner of Police (Central Region). As terrorists carried out coordinated attacks across Mumbai, he led a police team that confronted Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Abu Ismail at Cama Hospital.

Despite sustaining severe injuries from grenade splinters during the encounter, Date continued to lead the operation. His actions played a crucial role in the capture of Ajmal Kasab alive, a breakthrough that later helped investigators unravel the full extent of the terror conspiracy.

For his extraordinary bravery and leadership under fire, Date was later awarded the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, one of the highest honors for courage in Indian policing.

Even years after the attacks, Date carries physical reminders of that night. Metallic splinters from the grenade explosion remain embedded in his body, including one dangerously close to his eye. He has often described these fragments not as wounds, but as “medals” earned on the battlefield.

Over his long career, Date has built an impressive résumé across both state and central policing institutions. He has served in the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) and was the first Commissioner of Police of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police commissionerate.

Within the Mumbai Police, he has held key positions, including Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) and Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), gaining deep operational experience in urban policing.

At the central level, Date has also served as Inspector General (Operations) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), further strengthening his credentials in counterterrorism and complex investigations.

An academic as well as a field officer, Date holds a doctorate in Economic Offences from Pune University, reflecting his expertise in financial crimes alongside conventional policing.

He now takes charge of Maharashtra Police at a crucial juncture, with local body elections underway and heightened expectations around maintaining law and order. Many within the force and beyond see his appointment as a reassuring choice, bringing experience, integrity, and proven leadership to the state’s highest police office.