Mumbai | October 14, 2025 — With Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla set to retire on December 31, the state home department has moved a step closer to finding her successor. A list of seven senior IPS officers, including National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Sadanand Date, has been prepared and will soon be sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for further screening.
The UPSC will now select three names from the list, from which the Maharashtra government will make the final appointment for the state’s top police post.
The Seven Officers in the Race
According to senior officials familiar with the development, the seven IPS officers shortlisted by the Maharashtra home department are:
- Sadanand Date – Director General, National Investigation Agency (NIA)
- Sanjay Verma – DGP (Legal and Technical)
- Ritesh Kumar – Commandant General, Home Guards
- Sanjeev Kumar Singhal – DGP (Anti-Corruption Bureau)
- Archana Tyagi – Director General, State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation
- Sanjeev Kumar – Director, Civil Defence
- Prashant Burde – DG, Government Railway Police
Among them, Sadanand Date, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, is the senior-most and widely regarded as the frontrunner for the post. Date is known both within the police force and across central agencies for his professionalism, calm leadership, and integrity.
Sadanand Date: A Decorated Officer and 26/11 Hero
Date’s career is marked by distinction and courage. During the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, he led a team that confronted heavily armed terrorists near Cama Hospital armed only with a carbine. Despite being severely injured, he continued to lead the counter-assault, an act that earned him the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry.
Currently serving as the Director General of the National Investigation Agency, Date has also held significant roles in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Known for his low-profile yet results-driven approach, he has often been praised for his work in counterterrorism and intelligence coordination.
If appointed as Maharashtra DGP, Date would be eligible for a two-year tenure, as he is set to retire in December 2026. However, his appointment would require the Centre’s approval to relieve him from his current assignment as NIA chief. Sources said that while the state government has prepared the shortlist, it has not yet made a formal request to the Union government for Date’s release.
Notable Exclusions and Political Undercurrents
A name conspicuously missing from the list is that of Amitabh Gupta, a 1992-batch IPS officer currently on central deputation to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Gupta, who holds the rank of Inspector General (IG), is considered a competent officer but has reportedly been overlooked for promotions in the past. His exclusion has raised eyebrows within police circles, as some of his juniors have now been shortlisted for the top post.
When contacted, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) I.S. Chahal declined to comment on the matter, citing procedural confidentiality.
The Outgoing DGP: Rashmi Shukla’s Eventful Tenure
The outgoing police chief, Rashmi Shukla, is a 1988-batch IPS officer whose tenure has been marked by both professional achievements and political turbulence. She was appointed by the Mahayuti government in 2023 and given a two-year term as DGP.
During her long career, Shukla has served in several key roles — including as Commissioner of the State Intelligence Department (SID) during Devendra Fadnavis’s first term as chief minister (2014–2019). Her tenure at SID, however, also placed her in the midst of political controversy.
When the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition came to power in 2019, Shukla was transferred from the intelligence wing to the civil defence department, a move widely seen as a demotion. Later, she was deputed to the Centre, serving first as Additional Director General (CRPF) and later as Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) — a central armed police force under the Union Home Ministry.
Her career took another dramatic turn in 2022, when three FIRs were registered against her in Mumbai and Pune, based on allegations of illegal phone tapping made by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and NCP leader Eknath Khadse. The cases accused her of surveilling opposition leaders during her time in the state intelligence department.
However, after the BJP-led Mahayuti government returned to power later that year, all three cases were closed for lack of evidence. Shukla was subsequently brought back to Maharashtra and appointed as state police chief, marking a significant political comeback.
The Selection Process Ahead
Under existing rules, the appointment of a state DGP follows a multi-tiered process to ensure transparency and merit-based selection. Once the UPSC receives the list of seven names from the state home department, it will evaluate the candidates based on seniority, service record, integrity, and experience.
The commission will then recommend three names to the Maharashtra government, which will make the final choice in consultation with the chief minister and home minister.
Traditionally, the DGP’s post carries immense influence — overseeing over 2 lakh personnel and shaping the law enforcement priorities of one of India’s largest and most politically significant states.
Balancing Merit and Politics
While the process is meant to be administrative, it often involves political considerations. Maharashtra’s policing structure has frequently been at the center of power struggles between the state and the Centre, especially in cases involving sensitive investigations or transfers.
A senior bureaucrat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The DGP’s appointment is never just a routine exercise in Maharashtra. The post holds political and administrative importance, especially with the state heading into a crucial pre-election year. Both performance and political acceptability will play a role.”
A Crossroads for Maharashtra Police
The next DGP will inherit a police force grappling with multiple challenges — from cybercrime and drug trafficking to urban policing complexities in Mumbai and Pune, and rural law enforcement issues in Vidarbha and Marathwada. The force also faces internal morale issues due to staffing shortages, outdated infrastructure, and growing public scrutiny of police conduct.
Officers said that whoever succeeds Rashmi Shukla will have to focus on restoring public trust, improving coordination between the Mumbai Police and the state headquarters, and strengthening intelligence-based policing.
“The next DGP will need to balance modernization with discipline, and administrative reform with morale building,” said a retired IPS officer. “Sadanand Date, if chosen, brings a strong operational and ethical foundation, which may help rebuild the force’s image.”
The Road Ahead
For now, the ball lies in the UPSC’s court, which is expected to process the state’s recommendations within the next few weeks. Once it shortlists the final three candidates, the Maharashtra cabinet will deliberate and announce the new police chief well before Shukla’s retirement date to ensure a smooth transition.
If the state decides to pursue Sadanand Date’s appointment, it will need to formally request the Union Home Ministry to relieve him from his role at the NIA — a move that may depend on coordination between the state and central governments.
Until then, Maharashtra’s corridors of power remain abuzz with speculation over who will become the next face of the state police — a decision that could influence not only law enforcement priorities but also political equations in the months to come.
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