Home / Crime and Justice / Powai Recording Studio Siege: 17 Children Held Captive in Chilling Ordeal
Powai Recording Studio Siege: 17 Children Held Captive in Chilling Ordeal
1 Nov, 2025
Summary
- Hostage crisis planned over a month, children believed it was a web series shoot
- Captor Rohit Aarrya threatened to kill children, had prepared for fire and escape
- Rescue operation lasted 2 hours, ended with Aarrya's death
A chilling hostage crisis occurred at a Powai recording studio in Mumbai on November 1, 2025. Rohit Aarrya, the captor, had apparently planned the incident over a month, luring 17 children aged 10-15 to the studio under the guise of a web series audition.
For four days, the children participated in "preparations" for the shoot, unaware that Aarrya had sinister plans. On the day of the incident, the children arrived at the studio, their hands tied and mouths taped, still believing they were filming a hostage scene. However, panic set in when Aarrya pulled out a gun and rod, threatening to kill them.
The police were alerted, and a tense 2-hour negotiation ensued. During this time, the children were kept in different rooms, with Aarrya moving them around and denying them food. The police managed to communicate with some of the victims, including Aarrya's production assistant, who was also held hostage.
Ultimately, the rescue operation culminated in Aarrya's death. Authorities found that the captor had prepared for the crisis, placing flammable materials and setting up motion detectors and cameras around the studio. The chilling ordeal left the children traumatized, but they were safely rescued by the police.
