MUMBAI: A tense hostage situation in Mumbai’s Powai area ended in tragedy on Thursday as Rohit Arya, the man accused of holding 17 children hostage inside a film studio, died following an exchange of fire with police. The incident unfolded inside RA Studios, a small film unit located on the ground floor of a residential building.
According to officials, Arya lured the children—aged between 8 and 14 years—under the pretext of a web series audition. Once inside, he locked the doors and held them captive for nearly two hours before police intervened. All children were rescued unharmed.
Police encounter and rescue operation
Mumbai Police said that a team from Powai Police Station received a distress call around 1:45 pm and rushed to the spot. Negotiations began immediately, but Arya refused to cooperate. When he brandished an air gun and threatened to harm the children, police decided to act.
“During the operation, he fired at our team using an air gun, forcing officers to fire back in self-defence,” said a senior police official. “A single round was discharged, which hit him in the chest.”
Arya was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. His post-mortem is being conducted at JJ Hospital.
Police officers broke into the studio through a bathroom entry, securing all 17 children safely. The rescue drew applause from local residents who had gathered outside the studio as the tense standoff unfolded.
A planned act of desperation
Prior to the incident, Arya had released a video statement on social media declaring that he had “chosen hostage-taking instead of suicide.” In the video, he claimed to have taken the children hostage “as part of a plan” and issued what he called “moral and ethical demands.”
“I want simple conversations, and that’s why I’ve taken these children hostage. I’m not a terrorist; I don’t want money,” Arya said. He warned police against making any “wrong move,” threatening to set the studio on fire if provoked.
Police later recovered the air gun and several chemical containers from the scene, which Arya allegedly used to intimidate officers.
Allegations against government departments
Investigations have revealed that Arya had long claimed he was owed Rs 2 crore by the Maharashtra government for his work on a sanitation awareness campaign. He alleged that his initiative, called the PLC Sanitation Monitor Project, was linked to the ‘My School, Beautiful School’ programme under the Chief Minister’s Office.
Arya had reportedly started a social campaign named ‘Let’s Change’ in 2013, aiming to make schoolchildren “ambassadors of cleanliness.” He claimed that despite official promises and partial payments of Rs 7 lakh and Rs 8 lakh, he never received the sanctioned project funds.
He had also gone on two hunger strikes in 2024, alleging that the Education Department had sidelined him after earlier assurances from then Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar.
Government response
In response to these allegations, Maharashtra Education Secretary Ranjit Singh Deol clarified that no official payment was due to Arya. “He volunteered for the sanitation awareness work and was given a certificate of appreciation. There was no formal financial agreement for Rs 2 crore,” Deol said.
He added that Arya’s proposal to scale up the programme under the ‘My Shala, Sundar Shala’ initiative did not move forward and that the state government owed him no dues.
Aftermath and investigation
The Powai Police have filed an FIR under relevant sections related to hostage-taking, criminal intimidation, and use of firearms. Authorities are now analysing Arya’s video messages and communications to determine whether he acted alone or had external support.
All 17 children, traumatised but safe, were handed over to their parents after a medical check-up and counselling session.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone X) said, “This was a sensitive case involving minors. Our team acted swiftly and with restraint to prevent loss of innocent lives.”
The Mumbai Police Commissioner has ordered a detailed inquiry into the sequence of events and commended the rescue team for their professionalism.
A grim reminder
The incident has sparked debate over the mental health crisis and the growing desperation among individuals facing bureaucratic apathy. Experts have called for early psychological intervention mechanisms and better grievance redressal systems to prevent such tragedies.
As Mumbai reels from the shock of the day’s events, the focus now shifts to understanding what drove a man from activism to violence—culminating in a deadly confrontation that could have cost innocent lives.