31 October,2025 12:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Police personnel during the rescue operation at Powai held several children hostage in Mumbai on Thursday. Pic/PTI
A major scare gripped Mumbai's Powai on Thursday afternoon when Rohit Arya allegedly held 16 children and one adult hostage inside a studio. The tense standoff ended after Arya was shot dead by the police, while all hostages were rescued unharmed.
According to police sources, Arya arrived at RA Studio around 12 noon. By 12.30 pm, 16 children aged between 10 and 15 had reached the venue for an audition session. Around 1 pm, Arya suddenly locked the doors, refusing to let anyone leave, and declared that everyone inside was now his hostage.
The crowd and the authorities outside the Powai building where the encounter took place. Pics/By Special Arrangement
At 1.15 pm, the terrified children began screaming for help through the glass panels. A local resident heard their cries and alerted the police. Within minutes, officers from the Powai police station arrived and sealed off the area.
Negotiation turns deadly
For over an hour, police tried to negotiate with Arya, urging him to release the hostages and surrender. Zone 10 DCP Datta Nalawade led the on-site operation, while senior officials - including the additional commissioner (West Region) and joint commissioner (Law & Order) - monitored from headquarters.
Rohit Arya
When talks failed, the situation escalated. At around 3.30 pm, the fire brigade was called for support and arrived by 3.45 pm. Firefighters broke open a small bathroom window fitted with an anti-theft sensor, allowing three police officers to enter the hall through a narrow opening.
As soon as Arya spotted the officers, around 4 pm, he allegedly pointed an air gun at them and fired. Mistaking it for a real firearm, Assistant Police Inspector Amol Waghmare fired a single shot in self-defence, hitting Arya in the chest.
Mangal Patankar, 75, from Kolhapur, who was among the hostages with her granddaughter
Police overpowered Arya and secured the room. He was rushed to a nearby hospital by 4.10 pm, where doctors declared him dead. By 4.30 pm, all 21 hostages - 16 children, one adult - were safely rescued.
Police later recovered an air gun and several chemical bottles from the scene. Officials confirmed that none of the children witnessed the firing. "The kids were in another section of the studio, away from the encounter site. They may have heard the gunshot but didn't see anything," said a police source.
Grandma says
Mangal Patankar, 75, who was held hostage along with her 11-year-old granddaughter said, "Sir (Rohit Arya) told me to sit with the children after we had breakfast. He used to tell me to sit with the kids every day. I would look after the children and scold them whenever they would do some mischief.
Suddenly I heard some sound from outside. At first, I thought some film shooting was going on. But then I heard some women cry loudly. I then felt that something was wrong and herded the children together. When the police tried to break open the door, the door fell on me and I was hurt."
Crime Branch takes over
A senior officer confirmed that the case has been transferred to the Mumbai Crime Branch for a detailed investigation into Arya's motive, background, and possible accomplices. The Powai police, who led the rescue, will assist the probe.
Who was Rohit Arya?
Preliminary inquiries reveal that Arya had worked on a project related to the âSwachh Bharat' documentary under the banner Let's Change. He had been conducting auditions at the studio for several days, inviting children from across Maharashtra - including from Nanded, Pune, Panvel, and Mumbai.
"Arya would visit during auditions, check progress, and even interact with the kids, explaining technical details and guiding them through the shoot," said a police source. Investigators are now probing whether the project was legitimate or merely a cover for his activities.
Timeline
1.45 pm Police receive an emergency call from Mahavir Classik building in Powai, reporting that a man had taken several children hostage inside RA Studio.
2.00 pm The accused is identified as Rohit Arya. He records a video claiming that his demands are "moral" and not financial. Police begin negotiations to persuade him to release the hostages.
2.00 pm - 3.30 pm Negotiation efforts continue. Around 16 children and one adult remain trapped inside the studio. Police secure the surrounding area and coordinate reinforcements through the Western Region Control Room.
3.30 pm As talks fail, the Quick Response Team (QRT) is deployed. Commandos enter the premises through a side entry to rescue the hostages. The accused opens fire at the police team.
3.30 pm Police retaliate. Rohit Arya is shot in the chest during a brief exchange of fire. The team successfully rescues all hostages from the studio.
4.30 pm - 5.00 pm The injured accused is rushed to a hospital, where he is declared dead. All 17 hostages (16 children and one adult) are found safe and undergo medical examinations before being handed over to their families.
Evening Police recover an air gun and chemical substances from the studio.
