RASHMI SHUKLA

Rashmi Shukla

Sadanand Date is the new Maharashtra DGP

By IndianMandarins 01 Jan 2026

Mumbai (01.01.2026): Sadanand Vasant Date (IPS: 1990: MH), former Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA), has been appointed as Maharashtra’s director general of police (DGP) for a two-year term.

Date has taken over from Rashmi Shukla (Retd IPS: 1988: MH) who retired on December 31, 2025. His appointment order from the home department, issued on Wednesday, stated that Date has been appointed to the post for two years, irrespective of his retirement date. He will turn 60 in December next year.

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Sadanand Date may be appointed as the next DGP of Maharashtra

Seven names shortlisted for next Maharashtra DGP; UPSC to pick final three

By IndianMandarins 03 Nov 2025

Mumbai (03.11.2025): The Maharashtra government has initiated the process to appoint the state's next Director General of Police (DGP) by shortlisting seven senior IPS officers, whose names have been sent to the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The move comes as the current DGP, Rashmi Shukla (IPS: 1988: MH), is set to retire on December 31, 2025.

The list of potential successors, which was forwarded to the UPSC on October 31, 2025, includes National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Sadanand Date (IPS: 1990: MH), the senior-most officer on the list. The UPSC will now examine the credentials of the seven officers and recommend a panel of three names to the state government, which will then make the final selection for the top police post.

The comprehensive list of seven shortlisted officers includes:

Sadanand Date (IPS: 1990: MH)
Sanjay Verma (IPS: 1990: MH)
Ritesh Kumar (IPS: 1992: MH)
Sanjeev Kumar Singhal (IPS: 1992: MH)
Archana Tyagi (IPS: 1993: MH)
Sanjeev Kumar (IPS: 1993: MH)
Prashant Burde (IPS: 1993: MH)

Among the contenders, Sadanand Date's tenure is noteworthy as he is scheduled to retire on December 31, 2026, giving him a longer potential run in the top office if selected.

Notable Exclusion

A significant omission from the shortlist is Amitabh Gupta (IPS: 1992: MH). He is currently on central deputation, serving with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

The selection process is governed by the Supreme Court’s guidelines, which mandate that officers considered for the DGP post must have at least six months of service remaining. The state government awaits the UPSC's recommendations to finalize the leadership of the Maharashtra Police.

SC rejects protocol breach PIL

By IndianMandarins 24 May 2025

New Delhi (24.05.2025): The Supreme Court rejected a PIL seeking action against Maharashtra officials for the alleged violation of protocol during Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai’s visit to the state on May 18, 2025 terming it an attempt for “cheap publicity”.

Justice Gavai had expressed his disappointment at the absence of senior state officials at a felicitation event held in his honour on May 18 during his first visit to his home state after taking over as Chief Justice of India, saying “every organ of the Constitution must…give its due respect to the other”.

Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, and Mumbai Police Commissioner P Deven Bharti were present when he visited Chaitya Bhoomi to pay tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar. They are reported to have expressed regret to the CJI and also accompanied him till the airport on his way back.

SK Verma appointed Maharashtra DGP replacing Rashmi Shukla

By IndianMandarins 05 Nov 2024

Mumbai (05.11.2024): The Election Commission of India has appointed Sanjay Kumar Verma (IPS: 1990: MH) as the next Maharashtra DGP after the ECI transferred DGP Rashmi Shukla (IPS: 1988: MH) on Monday ahead of the Assembly elections. Verma was chosen to take over the post on Tuesday.

After Rashmi Shukla was transferred Vivek Phansalkar (IPS: 1989: MH), the Mumbai Police Commissioner, temporarily took charge of the post. Ahead of the November 20 Assembly polls, the ECI directed the state government to transfer Rashmi Shukla, the first woman DGP of Maharashtra, with immediate effect, following complaints from political parties, including the opposition Congress.

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ECI removes Maharashtra DGP

By IndianMandarins 04 Nov 2024

Mumbai (04.11.2024): The Election Commission of India (ECI) has Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla (IPS: 1988: MH) on Monday, days after the Congress alleged that the IPS officer had a "clear bias" against the opposition. Earlier also, the Congress accused her of illegal "phone tapping".

The ECI ordered the state's Chief Secretary to hand over DGP Rashmi Shukla's charge to the next senior-most IPS officer in the Maharashtra cadre. The CS was also directed to send a panel of three IPS officers by Tuesday afternoon for appointment as DGP.

Last month, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, requesting the removal of the IPS officer as the state's police chief. Patole accused DGP Shukla of displaying a "clear bias" against opposition parties in the state, including Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP(SP).

Thumbs down for opposition, Maha DGP is here to stay

By IndianMandarins 16 Oct 2024

Mumbai (16.10.2024): The Election Commission of India (ECI) decided not to remove Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla (IPS: 1988: MH) and clarified Opposition’s demand that her appointment as DGP was approved by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This has put an end to any possibility of change of DGP in the state during ongoing elections.

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole had demanded by writing to the CEC that Shukla should be removed before the polls claiming that her extension would benefit the ruling alliance. Patole questioned her extension saying it contravened legal norms. He argued that extending Shukla's tenure beyond her original retirement date violated the Maharashtra Police Act, which mandates a two-year tenure for the DGP, provided they are not due for retirement in that period.

CEC Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday clarified that DGP's appointment is governed by a procedure wherein names of the senior-most officers are sent to the UPSC, which then shortlists the candidate. The CEC said, "This name has been cleared by the UPSC."

Maharashtra gets first woman CS, a woman DGP already leading the state police

By IndianMandarins 30 Jun 2024

New Delhi (30.06.2024): The Maharashtra Government on Sunday appointed Sujata Saunik (IAS: 1987: MH) as the new Chief Secretary of Maharashtra vice Dr Nitin Kareer (IAS: 1988: MH). She has tenure in service upto May 2025. As the 45th Chief Secretary of Maharashtra since 1960, when the state was carved out she becomes the first woman to occupy the top bureaucratic post.

As Kareer’s predecessor Sujata’s husband Manoj Saunik (a 1987 batch IAS) already led the state bureaucracy as CS.

This is for the first time in the state that the two top and coveted positions are held by women - Sujata Saunik as Chief Secretary and Rashmi Shukla as Director General of Police.

It may be underlined that a day before her appointment as state CS the Centre empanelled her for holding Secretary/ Secretary-Equivalent post.

Maharashtra extends tenure of DGP Rashmi Shukla for 2 years

By IndianMandarins 29 Feb 2024

New Delhi (29.02.2024): The Maharashtra government extended the tenure of Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla (IPS: 1988: MH) by two years from the date of her appointment. Shukla will now retire from service on January 3, 2026. Earlier, she was scheduled to retire in June this year. This was the first time when the state government extended the tenure of Maharashtra DGP by two years.

She took charge as DGP in early January. As per Supreme Court judgements and orders, any IPS officer shall get at least two-year term irrespective of the retirement date. While extending the tenure of Shukla (59), the state home department considered the Supreme Court rulings and also took legal opinion for the same.