In a heart-wrenching incident, Rohit Arya, the man who held 17 children hostage at R.A. Studios in Powai, Mumbai, tragically passed away in the hospital. During a police operation, Rohit was shot and severely wounded. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead by the doctors.
Originally from Pune, Rohit Arya was awarded a tender for a school project during the tenure of Maharashtra's then Education Minister, Deepak Kesarkar. Unfortunately, he claimed that he had not been paid for this project yet, leaving him in financial distress and under immense mental pressure.
Rohit resided on the 9th floor of Annapurna Building in Chembur, a relative's apartment who has been based in the United States for the past four years. Rohit left there at around 9 AM this morning. Police have visited the location as part of their investigation.
Claimed Victim of Injustice
Rohit protested outside Deepak Kesarkar's residence several times over this issue. According to police sources, in recent months, he had been vocal against the government and the system on social media, claiming he was a victim of injustice.
Discontent with Maharashtra Government
Rohit also claimed that he had originally designed the 'Mazi Shala, Sundar Shala' concept, which was inspired by his film 'Let's Change,' implemented by the Maharashtra government in 2022.
His accusation was that the government used his idea, script, and even movie rights without giving him credit or compensation. As per his statement, 'They got me to work and then disregarded my presence.'
Rohit's Hunger Strike
In response, Rohit staged multiple protests against the Education Department and Minister Deepak Kesarkar, even embarking on a month-long hunger strike. Previous reports indicated that the minister assured him his demands would be met, but Joint Secretary Mahajan cited an investigation, stalling the process.
In his past statements, Rohit had said, 'If I commit suicide, Deepak Kesarkar, his private secretary Mangesh Shinde, former Education Commissioner Suraj Mandre, Tushar Mahajan, and Sameer Sawant would be responsible.'
Concepts Used, Payments Denied
Rohit alleged that not only did the government adopt his concepts, but a budget of ₹2 crore was also allocated based on them. Yet, he neither received recognition nor payment. This neglect and controversy might have driven him into a mental state where holding children hostage seemed the only way to make his voice heard.
The Events of Thursday
On Thursday morning, Rohit lured approximately 100 children under the pretense of a web series audition at R.A. Studios in Powai. During this, he held 17 children and a total of 19 people hostage while allowing others to leave. Upon notification, the police cordoned off the area and successfully rescued all children after a focused two-hour operation.
Death at the Hospital
According to the police, an airgun and some chemical substances were recovered from Rohit. He was injured during the operation and immediately taken to the hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Rohit's Video Message
Amidst the kidnapping, a video message from Rohit surfaced, in which he claimed responsibility for the incident. In the video, Rohit stated that he orchestrated this plan not for any substantial financial demand but to raise ethical questions. He insisted he was not a terrorist, aiming only to ask questions and seek answers.
