Before the police managed to rescue the children, Rohit Arya released a video message claiming that he had taken them hostage to get answers to what he called “simple, moral, and ethical” questions from certain people.
Investigators later revealed that Arya had lured the children, aged between eight and fourteen, to a local studio called RA Studio by inviting them to an “audition” for a web series. Around noon, he circulated a video lasting about a minute and a half, explaining his motives and cautioning authorities against making any wrong move. The clip quickly spread across social media platforms.
In the video, Arya said, “I have very simple demands. Very moral, ethical demands. I have some questions. I want to speak with some people and get answers. I am not a terrorist, nor do I have any demand for money. I just want a conversation.” He warned officials that any wrong action could push him to “set this whole place on fire,” adding that even if he died, the children would suffer and he should not be blamed.
He ended the recording by saying that once the “conversation” was done, he would leave peacefully. He also claimed that “many people have these problems” and that he would provide a solution through discussions, though he never clarified what those problems were.
Senior Inspector Jeevan Sonawane later stated that Arya had specifically demanded to speak with former Maharashtra education minister Deepak Kesarkar, saying he had grievances with the education department.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade said, “At about 1.30 pm, Powai police station received information that a man had taken 17 children hostage inside the Mahavir Classic building. The Mumbai Police launched a rescue operation and freed all the children safely. During the operation, the accused was injured, rushed to the hospital, and later declared dead.”
The standoff led to a massive joint rescue effort by the Mumbai Police and the fire department that lasted for over an hour. Officials later confirmed that Arya appeared to be mentally unstable. All the children were found unharmed and were handed over to their guardians after verification.
