From Pune’s Streets to National Security: Sadanand Date To Head National Investigation Agency
Pune, 28th March 2024: Sadanand Date, a 1990-batch IPS officer, renowned for his pivotal role in the police response to the 26/11 attacks, has been appointed as the new Director General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the central counter-terrorism agency.
At 57 years of age, Date currently serves as the Director General of the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
A native of Pune, Date’s journey to success was marked by perseverance and determination. Despite facing personal hardships, including the loss of his father at a young age, Date remained steadfast in his pursuit of education and excellence.
He completed his initial schooling up to Std VIII at Adarsh Vidyalaya and later passed his Std X from Maharashtra Education Society’s Perugate Bhave High School. Later, he completed his commerce graduation from Modern College. He also pursued ICWA before cracking the UPSC examination and joining the IPS.
Despite facing personal hardships, including the loss of his father at a young age, Date remained steadfast in his pursuit of education and excellence. His elder brother, Shriganesh Date, attributes Sadanand’s achievements to his inherent leadership qualities and unwavering support from the community.
Date’s educational journey reflects his commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement. From working as a newspaper delivery boy to pursuing higher studies in commerce and obtaining a PhD, his dedication and hard work have been unwavering.
Throughout his distinguished 34-year career, Date has served in various capacities, including stints with the CBI and as the Additional Commissioner of Police in Mumbai. His expertise extends to economic offences and organized crime, garnering recognition both nationally and internationally.
Date’s valor and dedication were evident during the 26/11 attacks when he led a team to confront Ajmal Kasab and his mentor, Ismail Khan, at Cama Hospital in Mumbai. Despite sustaining injuries in a grenade attack, which left him immobile for a month and with shrapnel embedded in his right eye, Date continued to display exemplary courage. Notably, in November 2012, he orchestrated the covert operation to transfer Kasab from Arthur Road Jail to Yerwada Jail in Pune, where the terrorist was eventually executed.
His illustrious career includes remarkable achievements such as his tenure as Bhandara SP, where he successfully reintegrated misguided youth from the Naxal movement back into mainstream society. This effort led to the surrender of a Naxal, Shivaji Tumreddi, who handed over an AK-47, a significant development in the state’s fight against extremism.
The appointment process for the NIA position commenced a month ago, with Date emerging as one of the shortlisted candidates from across the nation. Known for his expertise in handling terror-related cases, particularly during his tenure as the Maharashtra ATS chief, Date is expected to bring invaluable experience to his new role.
