Hours after Rohit Arya was killed by Mumbai Police during a three-hour hostage situation in Powai, those who knew him expressed shock. His wife, Anjali Arya, stated that Rohit was driven to desperation by unpaid dues for a government project he managed.
“He was heading the PLC Swachhta Monitor project. The government had promised to sanction ₹2 crore for its implementation after appreciation from Kesarkar saheb. Although the work was completed, Rohit never received the payment or even formal recognition,” Anjali Arya shared after reaching the scene.
Arya, 50, had held 17 children hostage at RA Studio in Powai’s Mahavir Classic building, where they had reportedly been called for an audition. Armed with an air gun and inflammable spray, he barricaded himself for over three hours. Police successfully rescued all children unharmed and then shot Arya, who later died from his injuries. Neighbours and former associates in Pune remembered Arya as a calm and composed person, with one neighbour noting, “He was a normal person. He used to talk, just like you and I are talking.” Another resident described him as soft-spoken and recalled his calm demeanor, expressing disbelief that such an incident could occur. Arya had also previously run a cafe in Pune that had recently closed.
During negotiations, Arya released a video emphasizing his non-violent intentions, stating, “I am not a terrorist and do not have any monetary demands.” He aimed to draw attention to the ₹2 crore payment he claimed was owed to him for the ‘PLC Swachhata Monitor’ project, which was adopted by the state’s primary education department. However, former Maharashtra school education minister Deepak Kesarkar denied any unpaid dues, mentioning that he had even provided Arya with personal funds last year after he complained about payment delays.