Powai kidnapper's chem threat foiled

Powai area witnessed a tense hostage situation on Thursday when Rohit Arya, a 50-year-old man, took 17 children and two adults hostage at an acting studio.

- Megha Kuchik and Poonam Apraj

The children, aged 13-17, were lured to the studio under the pretext of auditions for a web series. After a dramatic rescue operation, the Mumbai Police successfully freed all hostages, but Arya was killed in the crossfire.

The case has now been handed over to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. Arya’s associate Rohan Aher’s brother claimed the documentary was a government project and that Arya’s payment for it had been pending with the government.

Over the first three days, around 80 children participated in the “audition” at the studio, of which 17 were shortlisted for the shoot. Arya informed them that filming would take place on Thursday and called the children — nine girls and eight boys — to the Mahavir Classik building on Saki Vihar Road, Powai.