In an intense hostage situation that unfolded in Mumbai on Thursday, a child who fell victim to Rohit Arya's deranged actions surfaced on camera for the first time. The audacious Rohit Arya managed to keep 17 children hostage for hours. He ensnared a Marathi actress by inviting her to a supposed shoot under the guise of a web series about kidnapping. The story he spun for his so-called web series eerily mirrored the real events unfolding at R.A. Studio. Fortunately, the conclusion orchestrated by the Mumbai Police ensured that Rohit did not survive to witness his own plot.
Luring the Actress with False Promises of Filming
The hostage crisis at R.A. Studio in Powai on October 30 left not only 17 children breathless but also captured the curious attention of the entire nation through media reports. New revelations about Rohit Arya paint a portrait of his manipulative and disturbed nature. Actress Ruchita Jadhav, who has featured in several Marathi films, revealed that Rohit Arya used the same kidnapping plot under the pretense of a web series to lure her for a role.
Revelations from social media platform Instagram and chats between actress and Rohit Arya unveiled his true motives—he wished to negotiate with the police using Ruchita as leverage. Rohit's introduction to Ruchita had him posing as a film producer; however, for personal reasons, actress Ruchita Jadhav decided to cancel her plan to join the shoot.
Elderly Woman Shares Her Ordeal
Among the hostages was the grandmother of one of the children. During the quick response operation by eight commandos, she sustained a head injury. She recounted the haunting tale of the hostage crisis to the media: 'We hail from Kolhapur. The shoot had been going on for four days and he used to speak politely. I was eating laddus when he asked for some. The day before, he told the parents that a kidnapping and chase scene would be filmed. He brought along fireworks and rockets, claiming they were for the scene. Two days ago, he turned off the CCTV cameras claiming it was for placing lights.'
The elderly woman will never forget those terrifying two hours. She explained how Rohit Arya repeatedly brandished a gun at the children. This grim reality was confirmed by the children themselves. He took four children upstairs, sealed the shutters with heavy locks and banners, ensuring no one could enter or exit.
'He Wasn't Filming'
The elderly woman, inside the studio with the children, detailed how Rohit attempted to cloak his sinister intentions under the guise of shooting. 'He kept parents outside, but the day before, he allowed no one to leave. He took us into the studio and instructed to keep the children in check,' she recounted. 'He told them to walk fearfully as if filming, yet no filming took place. Later, he asked me to bring more children upstairs', and among them was my granddaughter. When I inquired about the commotion downstairs, he merely claimed it was part of the shoot. Despite repeating that there was filming, it was evident he had no such intentions. The children were mere pawns to his game. Our suspicions grew as we questioned the legitimacy of this so-called filming.'
'Rohit Demanded 20 Million Rupees'
The father of one of the captive children shared that Rohit Arya demanded a ransom of 20 million rupees. Though not a seasoned criminal, Rohit's plans were perilously meticulous. He had motion sensors installed on all studio windows and doors to prevent police entrance, and redirected CCTV angles to obscure inside activities. Nonetheless, when eight commandos infiltrated through a bathroom, Rohit was fatally shot by police action. Upon entry, officers deactivated the sensors.
Colleagues of Rohit Arya working on the hostage situation were in the dark about his exact plans until the very end. Doubts arose when Rohit dismissed his associates from the studio, prompting police alerts. Currently, unanswered questions surround the hostage crisis, police intervention, and the demise of the accused perpetrator.
