Mumbai Filmmaker Takes Children Hostage Over Disputed Rs 2.4 Crore Government Payment

Mumbai filmmaker Rohit Arya took 19 people hostage at a Powai film studio, including 17 children.

The Maharashtra government has officially denied claims made by Rohit Arya regarding a Rs 2 crore debt for an urban sanitation initiative managed by his company, Apsara Media Entertainment Network. This statement came after Arya took hostages at a Mumbai studio.

Prior to the hostage situation, Arya released a video claiming he was owed money and seeking answers to what he described as "simple, moral, and ethical" demands without providing specific details.

Following the dramatic incident in Powai that ended with Arya being fatally shot during a police rescue operation, the Education Department released information confirming that Arya's company had been selected in 2022 and 2023 to lead Project Let's Change, a cleanliness campaign involving 59 lakh student participants as "swachhata monitors."

Official records show that Rs 9.9 lakh was disbursed via government order dated June 30, 2023. For the second phase in 2023/24, implemented through Mukhyamantri Majhi Shala Sundar Shala, Rs 20.63 crore was allocated, with Rs 2 crore designated for the cleanliness monitors.

However, the Education Department stated that Arya's project documentation contained significant deficiencies, including apparently inflated costs for advertising, manpower, technical support, and documentary screening, which prevented the scheme's implementation.

A year later, Arya requested the scheme's revival for all state schools and submitted a demand for Rs 2.42 crore.

While his proposal was under review, officials discovered that Arya had been collecting "registration fees" from participating schools as Director of Project Let's Change, despite lacking authorization to do so.

Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse explained: "Government projects require specific procedures including tenders and terms and conditions. These procedures weren't followed in this case. The private media firm collected money from schools, which violates government regulations."

In August of the previous year, authorities instructed Arya to deposit the collected funds into a government account and submit an affidavit promising to cease collecting money before his proposal for renewing the initiative would be considered.

According to government officials, Arya complied with neither requirement.

The cleanliness initiative was subsequently discontinued following last year's Assembly election when Devendra Fadnavis returned as Chief Minister heading the BJP-led Mahayuti administration.

Following the incident, Arya's wife Anjali told reporters that her husband had been fighting both for the promised Rs 2 crore he claimed was sanctioned and for recognition of his work.