Mumbai, October 30 (Udaipur Kiran) — A man identified as Rohit Arya died in hospital after being shot by police following a hostage situation at a studio in Pawai, Mumbai, officials said. Arya — a Pune resident and an employee at the RA Studio in Mumbai who also ran a YouTube channel — reportedly held 17 children among 19 people hostage before police intervention late Thursday afternoon.
Police received a call at about 1:45–2:00 pm reporting that a person had taken children hostage inside the studio. Sources say Arya was armed with an air gun, which authorities say can cause serious injury at close range. Officers entered the premises via a rear entrance and progressed toward a washroom area connected to the studio, where a confrontation occurred. According to police accounts, Arya aimed the gun at a hostage, and ASI Amol Waghmare fired at him. Arya was hit in the chest and later died at hospital.
A video that circulated on social media before police entry showed Arya addressing the camera. He said he had taken children hostage as part of a planned act and insisted his demands were “simple” and “moral.” He stated he wanted to speak to certain people and receive answers, adding he was not a terrorist and had no monetary demands. He warned that any mistake could force him to “set the place on fire” and that children could be harmed.
Background provided by police and local reports say Arya had been running auditions at the studio in recent days and claimed grievance over an unpaid project. He had earlier alleged not receiving credit or payment for a concept he said he developed — including a 2023 “swachhta monitor” concept — and reportedly felt aggrieved after not being credited or paid. Mumbai Police described him as mentally unstable in their initial statement.
During the probe, the complainant — identified as a fellow officer’s husband in other related coverage — said he received his wife’s call detail records in an anonymous packet, which raised suspicions. Arya, meanwhile, denied hotel-stay allegations and said in court-related statements (as reported) that he had faced mental and physical harassment in his marriage and that the accused officer was a childhood friend.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Police are expected to release further details as inquiries proceed.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.