Archive · 31 Oct 2025
Powai Hostage Crisis: Police Raid Studio, Recover Weapons; Accused Deceased
A man named Rohit Arya took 17 children and 2 adults hostage inside a studio in Mumbai where the children were at an audition.
He said he wasn't a terrorist and didn't want money, but wanted to ask questions.
He even warned that he could set the place on fire.
The police worked quickly with different teams, including firefighters, to get everyone out safely.
They entered the studio through a back way while talking to him.
During the rescue, when Arya came at the police with an air gun, he was shot and later died.
The police found a pistol, petrol, and other flammable items in the studio.
Mumbai Police recovered a pistol, petrol, inflammable rubber solution, and a lighter from R.A. Studio after a hostage situation.
Rohit Arya, the alleged hostage-taker, died after being shot by police during the rescue operation.
The 17 children and 2 adults held hostage were attending auditions for a web series.
Arya released a video claiming he was not a terrorist and wanted to ask moral questions, warning of setting the studio on fire.
A case has been registered against the deceased accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
- Who
- Rohit Arya, Mumbai Police, 17 children, 2 adults
- What
- Hostage situation at R.A. Studio, rescue operation, recovery of weapons, death of hostage-taker.
- When
- Thursday, October 31, 2025 (hostage crisis and rescue); Friday, October 31, 2025 (postmortem)
- Where
- R.A. Studio, Powai, Mumbai
- Why
- Rohit Arya claimed he wanted to ask moral and ethical questions and took hostages instead of committing suicide, warning he could set the studio on fire.
Hostage Taker's Claims
Police Actions
Motive
Hostage Taker's Claims
Rohit Arya claimed he was not a terrorist, had no monetary demands, and wanted to ask moral and ethical questions.
Police Actions
Police treated the situation as a hostage crisis and initiated a rescue operation involving multiple specialized units.
Threat
Hostage Taker's Claims
Arya warned that he could set the studio on fire, potentially harming the children, if authorities made a wrong move.
Police Actions
Police found a pistol, petrol, inflammable rubber solution, and a lighter, indicating a potential arson threat. They ultimately used force to neutralize the threat.
Intervention
Hostage Taker's Claims
Arya insisted on speaking to certain people and warned against any police action that would break his line of sight.
Police Actions
Police entered the building through a duct and the fire brigade cut a bathroom grill to gain access, leading to a confrontation where Arya was shot.
- Location
- R.A. Studio, Powai, Mumbai
- Hostage Taker
- Rohit Arya (Deceased)
- Hostages
- 17 children, 2 adults
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Recovered Items
- Pistol, petrol, inflammable rubber solution, lighter, air gun
- Legal Action
- Case registered under Sections 109(1), 140, and 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
Sources
AICWA Demands 'High-Level Inquiry' Into Children Kidnapping Case Linked To Fake Audition At RA Studio
Motion sensors, face-to-face negotiation: How Mumbai hostage-taker Rohit Arya tried to keep police away—and failed
