A dramatic end came to the tense hostage situation in Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday (October 30) after the accused, Rohit Arya, reportedly died following a police encounter. Arya, who had earlier taken several children hostage inside RA Studio, sustained gunshot injuries during a confrontation with police and was taken to Jogeshwari Trauma Hospital, where he later succumbed to his wounds.
Rohit Arya dies after police firing during hostage rescue in Powai
The man accused of kidnapping several children in Mumbai’s Powai area, identified as Rohit Arya, died after being shot during a police operation to rescue the hostages. According to officials, when the police entered RA Studio through a bathroom entry point, the accused was armed with an air gun and possessed certain chemical substances.
Officers repeatedly asked him to surrender, but he refused to comply. As the situation escalated, the police were forced to open fire in response to his aggressive behavior. Arya sustained a gunshot injury during the exchange. He was immediately taken to Jogeshwari Trauma Hospital for treatment but was later declared dead.
Police stated that the firing occurred while attempting to rescue the children, all of whom were evacuated safely from the premises. Investigations are underway to determine the full circumstances leading to the confrontation.
At around 1:30 pm, Powai Police Station received information that a person had taken 17 children hostage at Mahavir Classic building, Powai. The Mumbai Police team conducted a rescue operation and safely freed all the children. During the operation while rescuing children the person got injured, was immediately rushed to the hospital, and was later declared dead.
Powai encounter case transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch
The investigation into the Powai encounter case has been officially handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch. According to information received, the accused, Rohit Arya, had meticulously planned the entire incident. He contacted parents from different locations, claiming to be organising film auditions for children.
One family, requesting anonymity, revealed that three of their relatives had travelled from Kolhapur to Mumbai with a child for the supposed audition and were staying with their relatives nearby. Arya had informed them that the audition process would last three days. When the family decided to return after a few rounds, he convinced them to stay for one more day.
On the day of the incident, before the situation escalated, Arya reportedly moved the children to one side of the studio, locked himself inside, and recorded a video message that was later sent to media outlets. Alarmed by the developments, several parents contacted the police, prompting the teams to rush to the studio and begin rescue operations.
CM Fadnavis praises Mumbai Police for swift action in Powai hostage case
Commenting on the Powai incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the case was an unusual and alarming one, where 17 children had been abducted and threatened after being lured under false pretenses. He commended the Mumbai Police for their prompt and precise action in ensuring the children's safety, stating that not a single child suffered even a scratch during the rescue operation. Fadnavis confirmed that the accused died during the encounter and lauded the police for handling the situation with exceptional efficiency and courage.
Deepak Kesarkar responds to the scary incident
Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar commented on the Powai hostage case involving Rohit Arya, explaining that Arya’s project, titled "Swachhta Monitor," was part of the government’s “Mera School Swachh School” initiative aimed at promoting cleanliness in schools. Kesarkar stated that Arya had contacted several schools under this scheme and accepted some payments, according to the Education Department. He added that if there were any issues regarding the pending bill, Arya should have approached the concerned department through proper administrative channels. The minister emphasised that government matters follow a defined procedure and that taking hostages, as done in this case, was clearly wrong.
Opposition blames govt for financial lapses
Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Vijay Wadettiwar, criticised the Maharashtra government, alleging that its financial negligence had resulted in the Powai incident. In a social media post, he noted that due to delays in bill payments by the state, a man named Rohit Arya took 17 children hostage at a studio in Powai. He remarked that police intervention prevented a major tragedy, but the underlying issue was the Education Department’s failure to clear dues of around two crore rupees.
Wadettiwar further said that while farmers are dying by suicide over pending loan waivers, contractors suffer similarly due to delayed government payments. He questioned how many such bills are yet to be cleared and warned of potential future tragedies stemming from poor financial planning. He asked whether the then Education Minister or the current Mahayuti government would take responsibility had the children lost their lives in this incident.
I'm not terrorist, my demands are ethical: Rohit Arya
The hostage crisis unfolds
The incident began when Rohit Arya, identified as a mentally disturbed resident of Pune, allegedly called 17 children, a senior citizen, and another civilian to RA Studio under the pretext of conducting auditions for a web series. Once inside, he locked the doors and held the group captive for several hours.
Police received an emergency call following which Quick Response Teams (QRT) and special units surrounded the building. Negotiations were first attempted to secure the release of the hostages peacefully, but when talks failed, the police broke into the studio through a bathroom entry point.
Children rescued safely
In a carefully coordinated operation, police and fire department personnel rescued all 19 individuals, including 17 children. The hostages were found confined on the ground floor of the studio. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Kishan Nalawade, all those rescued were safe and reunited with their families. The officer confirmed that the focus of the investigation was to determine Arya’s motives and mental condition.
Gunfire and aftermath
During the confrontation inside the studio, police officers and the accused reportedly clashed, leading to a gunshot injury to Arya. He was immediately transported to Jogeshwari Trauma Hospital for treatment but was declared dead soon after arrival. Authorities recovered an air gun and certain unidentified chemicals from the studio premises.
Preliminary investigations suggest that Rohit Arya had been dealing with severe mental stress related to unpaid dues from a government school project contract. He reportedly claimed that around Rs 2 crore were pending and had staged protests in the past over the issue, including a hunger strike near the residence of former Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar.
Mumbai Police have launched a detailed investigation to understand how Arya managed to organise the fake audition and lure children to the studio. Officials are also examining the nature of chemicals found at the scene. The entire operation, officials said, was particularly challenging given the involvement of minors.