Man Lures 17 Kids With Fake Web Series Audition, Holds Them Hostage In Mumbai

Last Updated:October 30, 2025, 17:23 IST

A man allegedly kidnapped at least 17 children and held them as hostage in Mumbai. All the children have been rescued safely and handed over to their parents, police said.

The accused has been identified as Rohit Arya.

A man allegedly kidnapped at least 17 children among 19 people and held them as hostages in Mumbai’s Powai.

The accused, identified as Rohit Arya, was taken into custody after police shot him. All children have been rescued safely and were handed to their guardians.

Mumbai Police said Arya seems to be “mentally stable". He is a school teacher in Nagpur.

“He has released a video purportedly saying that he wants to speak with a few people and if he is not allowed to do it, he will set everything on fire and harm himself and the children," the police said.

‘I’m Not A Terrorist, Have Moral Demands’: Mumbai Man Who Took 17 Kids Hostage In Powai

How Accused Kidnapped Children

The accused set up a fake web series audition and invited 100 students. He let 83 students go and kept 17 as hostages with two other people. He kept them on the ground floor and first floor of the studio in Powai.

How Police Rescued Children

After getting information about the hostage situation at 1.45 pm, the police reached the studio and tried to negotiate with the accused. However, the police failed to persuade him and later entered the studio forcefully.

Police personnel entered the studio from the bathroom and then shot him. Children were later rescued safely.

The police also found an air gun and some chemicals, samples of which will be sent to the forensics department.

I’m Not A Terrorist: Accused Rohit Arya

Before he was nabbed, Arya recorded a video saying that he wants to talk to a few people, and if he is not allowed to do it, he will set everything on fire.

“I am Rohit Arya, and instead of dying by suicide, I have made a plan and I am holding some children hostage here. I don’t have many demands; I have very simple demands, moral demands, ethical demands, and a few questions. I want to talk to some people, ask them questions. But I want these answers. I don’t want anything else. I’m not a terrorist, nor do I demand a lot of money, and I certainly don’t want anything immoral," he said in the video.

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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...

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