Unpaid dues, credit denied: What triggered Rohit Arya's Mumbai hostage drama

Rohit Arya, who held children hostage in a shocking standoff on Thursday, was reportedly frustrated with the Maharashtra government for allegedly denying him credit for a school development project titled “Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala.” Arya, who claimed he was the original designer of the concept, died after being shot by police during the operation to rescue the hostages at a studio in Mumbai’s Powai.

Earlier in the day, Arya had released a video message stating that he did not want money but only wanted to speak with certain officials. However, he did not specify the exact nature of his demands or the motive behind his actions.

Originally from Pune, Arya had once secured a tender for a school-related project under the education department during the tenure of then Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar. He later alleged that despite his involvement, he was never paid for his work. His growing frustration over the issue led him to stage multiple protests outside Kesarkar’s residence while the minister was in office.

Arya had also claimed credit for launching the Swacchta Monitor concept in Maharashtra in 2023, another initiative for which he said he was denied recognition and payment.

Aarya had alleged that the Maharashtra government implemented his original concept, “Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala”, without giving him due credit or payment. According to Rohit, the entire initiative was based on his idea inspired by his film “Let’s Change”, a concept he had designed and developed years earlier.

He claimed that the government not only used his idea but also the film rights he had purchased. “They used me to complete the work, but after that, they tried to suppress me,” he said in one of his earlier statements. He had alleged that officials took his concept, implemented it under the state’s education program since 2022, and later denied his contribution entirely. “They didn’t give me credit or money; they simply disowned my whole existence,” Rohit had said.

In his efforts to seek justice and recognition, Rohit staged multiple protests and even undertook a month-long hunger strike. According to reports, then Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar had assured him that his demands would be met. However, progress stalled after then Joint Secretary of Education, Tushar Mahajan, reportedly told him that “he did some mistakes,” and that no action would be taken until certain enquiries were completed.

"On the night of August 3, Minister Deepak Kesarkar came to meet me at my home, understood my concerns, said I was not wrong, and assured me that everything would be resolved August 5. He asked me to end my hunger strike, and I respected his request. But on August 7, it became clear that the minister's assurances were false. On August 9, I met the minister again; he once more promised to set things right. However, Mahajan, the Joint Secretary of the School Education Department, told me that a mistake had occurred on my part and that no action could be taken until an enquiry was completed," he had alleged.

Rohit had previously expressed deep frustration over the issue, naming several officials in his statements. “If I commit suicide, then Deepak Kesarkar, his personal secretary Mangesh Shinde, then education commissioner Suraj Mandhare, Tushar Mahajan, and Sameer Sawant will be responsible for it,” he had warned in an earlier quote.

He further alleged that his concept was initially appreciated by Kesarkar, who even approved a budget of Rs 2 crore for the “Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala” project. “He included my idea and concept in the project, but finally, they neither made the payments nor gave me credit for my work,” Rohit said.

EX-MINISTER BREAKS SILENCE

Kheskar, speaking on the incident, admitted that the project belonged to Arya and said authorities should have resolved the matter.

"Rohit Arya had a concept called Swachhta Monitor (Cleanliness Monitor). He was also assigned work for my school’s Sundar Shala (Beautiful School) project. In that, Rohit took money directly from the department, and the department was called in. This matter should be resolved through discussion with the department. It is wrong to hold someone hostage like this," he said on Thursday.

The hostage situation that lasted for about an hour ended when police breached the premises through a bathroom and detained Arya. Air guns and chemicals were recovered from the scene. The children, all around 15 years old, were handed over to their guardians after rescue. Arya, who was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, died of bullet injury.

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