Terror expert and 26/11 star officer, Sadanand Date is the new Chief of federal agency NIA

New Delhi, March 28

The Centre has appointed Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Sadanand Date as the Director General of the federal counter terrorism agency, National Investigation Agency (NIA). 

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 has been the backbone in countering the 26/11 terror attack and its subsequent investigation He 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.

The order stated, “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). 

His order stated, “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".