Mumbai police rescue 17 kids, kill hostage-taker in Powai
At Powai’s Ra Studio, Rohit Arya allegedly locked several children inside a room, threatening to harm them and himself.
Mumbai police shot dead a 50-year-old man and freed 18 people, 17 of them children, who had been taken hostage at a studio in Powai on Thursday afternoon.
The tense incident unfolded at Ra Studio in the Mahavir Classik building, when a man identified by police as Rohit Arya allegedly locked the children in a room during an audition. The youngsters, aged between ten and twelve, had come from different parts of Maharashtra hoping for a chance in a production. Instead, their day turned into a nightmare as Arya reportedly threatened to harm them and himself.
Local officers said Arya had been visiting the studio repeatedly over several days before the standoff. He had been publicly aggrieved over unpaid dues related to work his company did under the Swachhta Monitor Project connected to the state campaign “My School, Beautiful School.” The dispute, authorities noted, had seen him stage protests in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur last year.
During the rescue, police entered the premises after assessing the danger to the children. In the ensuing confrontation, officers fired and a bullet struck Arya. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but later pronounced dead, Joint Commissioner of Police Satyanarayan Choudhary said. Investigators said the swift action had been taken to protect the lives of the minors.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes outside the building as parents and onlookers gathered, desperate for news about the children inside. Studio staff cooperated with the police, and authorities confirmed that all 18 hostages were rescued — shaken but alive. Medical teams examined each child, and family members were reunited amid tears and relief.
Video footage circulating on social media reportedly showed Arya addressing the camera, saying he wanted to speak to certain people and that he did not seek money. “Instead of committing suicide, I made a plan and kept a few children hostage,” he said in the clip, claiming moral and ethical grievances. He warned that any wrong move would “trigger” him and threatened to set fire to the premises.
Police sources said Arya’s grievances centered on unpaid payments he believed were owed to his firm for government work under the Swachhta Monitor Project. While he insisted he was not a terrorist and did not want financial gain, the authorities treated the situation as a severe threat to children’s safety and responded accordingly.
As investigators continue to probe the incident, questions linger about security at audition venues and the warning signs that may have been missed. Officials urged organisers of public auditions and workshops to strengthen safety protocols and ensure immediate reporting of suspicious behaviour.
For the families of the children, Thursday’s ordeal is likely to remain etched in memory — a terrifying few hours that ended in relief but also sorrow over a life lost. City officials promised a thorough inquiry into the circumstances that led to this tragedy and pledged support for the children and their families as they recover from the shock.
Local leaders and child welfare groups visited the studio, offering counselling and support to the affected families. Schools nearby opened helplines, while psychologists and social workers were deployed to help the children process trauma. Authorities also said they would review licensing and safety measures for studios and audition venues to prevent similar incidents in future. Collectively.