In a tense standoff that gripped Mumbai for nearly three hours, a 50-year-old man, identified as Rohit Arya, held 17 children hostage inside a Powai studio. His elaborate plan, which included motion sensors and cameras, ultimately failed when a police bullet struck him in the chest. The incident, which had been days in the making, began with a fake audition for a web series, luring children aged 10 to 15 into a dangerous trap.
Arya, who had rented the studio just four days prior, was armed with an airgun and flammable spray. The crisis began around 1:30 PM when police received a distress call from RA Studio. Parents waiting outside grew anxious when their children didn’t return for lunch, and soon, residents alerted authorities after spotting some children signaling for help through the studio’s windows.
Multiple police units, including the Quick Response Team (QRT), bomb squad, and fire brigade, converged on the scene, initiating a rescue operation that lasted over three hours. Arya had warned police against storming the premises, threatening to set the studio ablaze. Investigations revealed he had been preparing for days, installing and testing motion sensors from Monday onwards, and connecting them to his phone for alerts.
However, Arya was unaware of a rear entry point into the building. Exploiting this, police teams, with assistance from the fire brigade, infiltrated the studio through duct lines and a bathroom vent. While one team engaged Arya in negotiations, others made their way in through a glass wall and the vent.
The operation was described as swift and delicate, prioritizing the children’s safety. When Arya refused to surrender and threatened the hostages, police made their move. Officer Amol Waghmare fired a single shot, fatally hitting Arya.
During negotiations, Arya insisted on speaking with an officer face-to-face, demanding they remain within his sight. He also released a video message, calmly asserting he wasn’t a criminal and had taken the children hostage to seek answers regarding an alleged ₹2 crore debt owed to him by the Maharashtra education department for his work on cleanliness campaigns and short films.
Arya claimed he hadn’t been paid despite assurances, having previously staged protests demanding his dues. He had also suffered an epileptic seizure during a protest last year. He was taken to Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital, where he was declared dead. All 17 children and two adults were safely rescued and received medical check-ups before being released.
Timeline of the Crisis:
- 1:30 PM: Police receive a distress call about children being held hostage at RA Studio, Powai.
- 1:45 PM: Rescue teams arrive; negotiations begin with the suspect, Rohit Arya.
- 2:15 PM: Arya releases a video claiming a demand for ₹2 crore from the education department.
- 2:45 PM: Children are seen crying behind studio windows; Arya refuses to surrender.
- 3:15 PM: Police teams infiltrate the building via duct lines and vents.
- 4:30 PM: After failed negotiation attempts, Arya is shot by police.
- 4:45 PM: All children are rescued; Arya is declared dead at the hospital.