Hostage Drama in Powai Ends in Tragedy: Rohit Arya Shot Dead After Holding 17 Kids Captive in Studio
A bullet injury claimed the life of Rohit Arya, the man who had held children hostage in a studio in Powai, during a stand-off with cops at Powai studio.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 30: The Mumbai Police on Thursday rescued 19 people – including 17 kids – from the studio where the man had held them hostage. Rohit Arya, who had released a video statement during the hostage drama that lasted for about an hour, was shot by police when he tried to hurt the children by firing an air gun and succumbed to injuries in hospital, a police officer said.
Children Lured Through Fake Web Series Audition
Arya had called the children – both boys and girls, around 15-year-old kids – to visit the studio for an audition for a web series, added. Apparently, Arya was carrying an air gun and some chemicals too, the officer added. Initially, police did not inform that there was a firing during the operation.
Mumbai Police Response at Powai Studio
A call was received by police at 1.45 p.m. about a man who is locked in R.A. Studio and holding some children hostage inside a studio. Accordingly, police officials in Powai along with a Quick Response Team, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, and fire brigade team reached the spot.
Before the rescue, Arya released a video message on social media and stated that he wanted to talk to a few people to ask them questions. If not allowed, he will put fire in the studio.
Disturbing Video Message
In a video message released after the incident, explained that his demands were moral and ethical ones and he also cautioned the authorities not to fool him.
He said, "I am Rohit Arya, instead of attempting a suicide, I have made a plan to take some children hostage. I don't have many demands, very simple ones that are moral and ethical. I have some questions and want to talk to some people and counter-question them but I want these answers.”
"Whether I remain alive or dead, children will be unnecessarily traumatised and if anything else happens to them... don't hold me responsible but those who are necessarily triggering this, when a normal common person just wants to talk. After completing my conversation, I will come out... a lot of people are having these issues and I want to have this solution by just the means of conversation. Please don't trigger me to do some harm to anybody.”
Statement from the DCP
The DCP informed that police attempts to negotiate with him failed and police entered the studio from a bathroom.
Mumbai Police said, “A man, identified as Rohit Arya, has held a few children hostage in Powai area of Mumbai. He has released a video purportedly saying that he wants to speak with a few people and if he is not allowed to do it, he will set everything on fire and harm himself and the children. The man seems to be mentally unstable and Police are trying to handle the matter."
Troubled Past and Background
Arya was an employee at RA Studio and also operated a channel on YouTube. He had been calling auditions for a couple of days, and as a result, many families showed up.
Arya hails from Pune, he had been granted a tender for a school project under the education department when Deepak Kesarkar was education minister. But, he had not been given that payment which he should get for this tender.
Owing to that uncertainty, he protested multiple times outside the minister’s residence while Kesarkar was a minister.
Rohit Arya founded the concept Swacchta Monitor of Maharashtra in 2023. He protested that he had not been given the fees and the credit for that was snatched from him.
