The process to appoint the next Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra has reached its final stage, with the state government forwarding a panel of seven senior IPS officers to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) for consideration. The UPSC will shortlist three names from the list, one of whom will be appointed as the new state police chief.
The new appointee will succeed the incumbent DGP, Rashmi Shukla (IPS:1988:MH), who is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2025.
The seven names sent to the UPSC are:
- Sadanand Date (IPS:1990:MH) – Director General, National Investigation Agency
- Sanjay Verma (IPS:1990:MH) – DGP, Legal and Technical
- Ritesh Kumar (IPS:1992:MH) – Commandant General, Home Guards
- Sanjeev Kumar Singhal (IPS:1992:MH) – DGP, Anti-Corruption Bureau
- Archana Tyagi (IPS:1993:MH) – DGP, State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation
- Prabhat Kumar (IPS:1993:MH) – Director, Civil Defence
- Prashant Burde (IPS:1993:MH) – DGP, Railway Police
Among them, Sadanand Date is widely viewed as the frontrunner. The senior-most officer in the cadre, Date is slated to retire on December 31, 2026, which would allow him a two-year tenure if appointed as DGP. Known for his extensive experience with central agencies, he is considered a strong contender for the top job.
According to our sources, the state government may request the repatriation of Sadanand Date from central deputation—similar to how the Centre recently repatriated Rajesh Aggarwal (IAS:1989:MH), Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Aggarwal is expected to succeed Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar (IAS:1988:MH), whose extended tenure ends this month. A similar move, sources indicated, is being anticipated in the case of the DGP post as well.
Join Us on WhatsApp