A day after Mumbai Police shot dead Rohit Arya during a dramatic rescue operation in Powai, more details have emerged about the man who held 17 children and two adults hostage inside a studio on Thursday.
Arya, armed with an airgun and an inflammable spray, was killed after a three-and-a-half-hour standoff when police stormed the room to rescue the minors.
Here are five key facts about Rohit Arya:
1. Pune resident & aspiring filmmaker
Arya, 50, was from Pune and produced short video films. He had recently moved to his sister’s flat in Chembur.
2. Connected to govt cleanliness projects
He earlier worked on school cleanliness campaigns linked to the Maharashtra government when Eknath Shinde was CM.
3. Payment dispute with education department
In a video recorded during the hostage crisis, Arya claimed he was owed ₹2 crore by the state education department, a claim officials deny, stating he failed to submit bills and inflated demands.
4. Prior protests
Arya had staged sit-ins outside former education minister Deepak Kesarkar’s residence and later at Azad Maidan in 2024 over the alleged dues.
5. Married but struggling emotionally
Arya’s wife said he was increasingly distressed about not receiving payment, while Kesarkar said he personally paid him some money “out of humanity.”
