Mumbai Hostage Crisis Ends with Gunman Dead, 17 Children Rescued Unharmed

A tense hostage situation in Mumbai’s Powai area ended with the death of Rohit Arya, a 36-year-old man who had taken 17 children and two others captive inside a film studio on Thursday afternoon. Arya was shot in the chest during a police operation and later died in hospital. All hostages were rescued safely.

Rohit Arya Seen Here. File Photo: CMO Maharashtra

Police officials said Arya lured the children -- aged between 8 and 14 -- to RA Studio, located on the ground floor of a residential building, by advertising a fake audition for a web series. A senior citizen and another adult male were also held. The standoff lasted approximately two hours.

According to Mumbai Police, Arya was armed with an air gun and chemical canisters, which he used to threaten officers. “When Arya pointed his air gun and made threats of setting the studio on fire, our team conducted a forced entry through the bathroom,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Satyanarayan Chaudhary. 

“One round was fired in self-defence, which struck Arya in the chest. He was taken to hospital, where he later died.”

Police confirmed that all 17 children were rescued unharmed and handed over to their families. The senior citizen injured in the incident was treated at the Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Centre.

Arya, who described himself as a social entrepreneur, had released a video shortly before the standoff. In it, he said he was taking the children hostage as part of a “planned” act, stating: “Instead of dying by suicide, I’ve made a plan. I want conversations. If I live, I’ll do it. If I die, someone else will.”

He insisted he had no financial demands, calling his grievances “ethical and moral.” He denied being a terrorist and claimed he had no intention of harming the children, a claim contradicted by his threats and actions during the standoff.

Investigators believe the motive stemmed from a long-standing dispute with the Maharashtra government over unpaid dues. 

Arya claimed that under the state’s My School, Beautiful School campaign, his sanitation awareness project -- called the PLC Sanitation Monitor -- was promised funding of ₹2 crore, which he never received.

Arya alleged that despite assurances from former state education minister Deepak Kesarkar and two partial payments, his work was sidelined and ignored. 

However, Maharashtra Education Secretary Ranjit Singh Deol disputed the claim, stating, “There was no contractual obligation. Arya volunteered. He was given a certificate, not funding. The government does not owe him money.”

Police have recovered the air gun and chemical containers from the scene. Forensic teams continue to examine the site.

This marks one of the most serious hostage incidents in Mumbai in recent years. Security at studios and casting agencies is under review following the breach. 

Authorities have also ordered a psychological assessment of the incident and its broader implications for public safety. An investigation is ongoing.