Former Education Minister Explains Refusal to Speak with Mumbai Hostage Taker Despite Direct Demands

Police confirmed they had contacted Kesarkar to request his communication with Arya.

Mumbai:

During a tense three-hour hostage situation in Mumbai, filmmaker Rohit Arya held 17 children and two adults captive at a studio while repeatedly demanding to speak with former school education minister Deepak Kesarkar. Arya's motivation stemmed from allegedly unpaid dues for work his company had completed for the education department, which Kesarkar previously headed.

Mumbai Police have stated they reached out to Kesarkar requesting he speak with Arya, but he declined. The former minister may now be required to provide an official statement regarding the incident.

When questioned about his refusal, Kesarkar, who served as education minister from August 2022 until November 2024, explained that he felt unable to make any binding commitments in his current position. He maintained that he would have spoken with Arya had he understood it would help resolve the situation.

Arya had taken 19 people hostage at RA Studios in Powai on October 30, claiming his company, Apsara Media Entertainment Network, was owed over Rs 2 crore for an urban sanitation and cleanliness campaign. The education department has since denied these claims.

Officials reported that Arya continuously asked negotiators to connect him with Kesarkar to discuss the outstanding payments. "We called Kesarkar and asked if he would speak to Arya, but he said no," one official confirmed.

When pressed about his refusal, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader explained that he had suggested police connect Arya with either the current education minister or departmental officials who could provide the necessary assurances. Kesarkar added that no one could have anticipated Arya would be killed in a police shootout.

The former minister claimed police had contacted him only once and never indicated that others were unreachable. He insisted he had no objection to speaking with Arya and would have agreed had police clarified that Arya simply wanted a conversation.

Kesarkar emphasized his willingness to help, stating his refusal was solely based on his belief that Arya wanted commitments he was no longer authorized to make.