AN UPRIGHT & CONSCIENTIOUS OFFICER IS THE NEW NIA CHIEF

On Sunday, March 31st, Sadanand Vasant Date, renowned for his brave deeds during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, took charge as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), India’s principal counter-terrorism law enforcement agency. Sadanand assumed the role following Dinkar Gupta’s retirement on the same day.

Colleagues describe Sadanand, a 1990-batch Maharashtra cadre IPS officer, as an upright and conscientious leader who sets an example for others to follow. He is highly knowledgeable and possesses extensive field experience. He played a crucial role in responding to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, including confronting terrorists at Cama Hospital and rescuing individuals. Additionally, he has been instrumental in addressing various high-profile cases such as the Shakti Mills gangrape, the Telgi scam, and the 2007 Kingfisher ticketing scam during his tenure with the Maharashtra Police. Date was honored with the President’s Police Medal for gallantry for his actions during the 26/11 attacks.

As a former chief of Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad, Date, hailing from Pune, has overcome various challenges to attain his current position. Having lost his father at a young age, he worked diverse jobs, such as newspaper boy and receptionist at a nursing home, while managing multiple responsibilities. Despite these hurdles, he remained focused on his studies and eventually succeeded in cracking the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam.