Mumbai Hostage Crisis: Rohit Arya Shot Dead After Holding 20 Children Captive at Powai Studio

Agencies, New Delhi, Oct 31, 2025: A dramatic hostage crisis in Mumbai’s Powai area came to a tragic end on Thursday, when Rohit Arya, a 50-year-old man from Pune, was shot by police during a rescue operation after he held 20 people, including 17 children, captive inside a film studio. Arya, who had grievances with the Maharashtra government over a disputed education project, was later declared dead at a hospital after succumbing to bullet injuries sustained during the standoff.

The incident unfolded around 3 p.m. when Arya, who had orchestrated a fake audition for a web series to lure children to the studio, took 17 children and two adults hostage. The children were reportedly invited under the pretense of an audition, but after releasing most of them, Arya kept the remaining 17 children and two adults locked inside. His demands and threats were captured in a video he released, in which he stated he was holding the children hostage to “speak to certain people.”

Rohit Arya, a YouTuber and former schoolteacher from Pune, was the man at the center of this chaotic hostage situation. Arya had been involved in a bitter dispute with the Maharashtra government over a school development project called “Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala” (My School, Beautiful School), which he claimed was based on his idea but later taken over by the state’s education department without proper recognition or compensation.

Arya had been part of a CSR initiative, “Swachhta Monitor,” which he believed was launched under his concept but was later rolled out by the government without giving him credit or payment. He alleged that his contributions were overlooked, and despite multiple attempts to raise his concerns—including protests and even a hunger strike—he was met with frustration and empty promises from government officials.

In a series of public statements, Arya accused the government of suppressing his efforts and said that key officials, including former Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, had assured him that his grievances would be addressed but ultimately failed to do so. This sense of betrayal led Arya to feel desperate, and he publicly stated that if he were to die, those officials would be responsible for it.

The hostage crisis began when Arya, feeling that he had been wronged by the state, decided to take drastic action. He reportedly held 17 children and two adults captive inside the studio in Powai, threatening to “set everything on fire” and harm both himself and the children if his demands were not met. He also insisted that he simply wanted to “speak” to certain individuals, including Deepak Kesarkar, and make them address his grievances.

A video recorded by Arya during the standoff captured his threats, as he warned of dire consequences if his demands for a conversation were not met. In the video, Arya declared, "I want simple conversations, and that’s why I’ve taken these children hostage. If I live, I’ll do it; if I die, someone else will, but it will definitely happen. It will happen to these children if they don’t suffer any harm.”

Despite the tense and dangerous situation, negotiators tried to communicate with Arya. However, when negotiations broke down, police were forced to breach the building using hydraulic tools to cut through the studio's grills. Arya, who had threatened officers and fired shots at them, was ultimately shot by police during the operation. The officers feared for the safety of the hostages after Arya used the children as human shields and attempted to fire at them with an air gun.

Following the rescue, all hostages, including the children and two adults, were safely released and handed over to their guardians. Arya, who was seriously injured during the police operation, was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities have confirmed that an air gun, chemicals, and a lighter were recovered from the scene, and these items have been sent for forensic analysis.

The Maharashtra government, meanwhile, responded to Arya’s accusations by rejecting his claims, stating that his proposals for various projects, including the Swachhta Monitor, lacked proper documentation and technical clarity. The government denied any financial or administrative responsibility for Arya’s projects and claimed that the hostages’ crisis had no direct connection to the actions of the education department.

Rohit Arya’s decision to resort to violence and take hostages was the culmination of a long history of personal and professional grievances against the Maharashtra government. His efforts to claim recognition for his work, particularly the “Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala” project, were met with repeated rejections, leading him to feel cornered and betrayed by the very system he had worked with.

In his final public statements before the hostage situation, Arya expressed deep frustration with the government and accused key officials of exploiting his ideas while failing to provide due recognition. He warned that if nothing changed, there would be consequences—he even mentioned that if he were to die, certain officials should be held responsible.

While the immediate hostage situation was resolved, Arya’s death underscores the tragic lengths to which some may go when they feel unheard and unjustly treated. His actions have drawn attention to the complexities of personal disputes with the government and the emotional toll of feeling betrayed by the institutions one works with.

The Powai hostage crisis, which captivated the attention of Mumbai and the nation, ended in tragedy with the death of Rohit Arya. The crisis was born out of a combination of personal grievances and a sense of injustice over unfulfilled promises and recognition. As investigations continue, authorities are working to piece together the full story behind Arya’s actions, and his motivations will undoubtedly remain a topic of debate.

For now, the focus is on the safe recovery of the hostages and providing support to those affected by the traumatic event. Police are also working to ensure that justice is served in the aftermath of this harrowing crisis.