A new thing is coming to light in the kidnapping case that took place in Powai, Mumbai on Thursday. It is being told that the accused Rohit Arya was angry with the Maharashtra Government and the Education Department for the last one year and used to call himself the real concept creator of the ‘Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala’ scheme.
Dispute over payment of Rs 2 crore from the government
Rohit Arya claimed that the idea of ’Majhi Shalya, Sundar Shalya’ scheme launched in 2022 was taken from his film ‘Let’s Change’. He had said that the government used his film and concept, but neither his name was given nor the promised amount of Rs 2 crore was paid. According to Rohit, the then Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar had approved his project and fixed a budget of Rs 2 crore. But payment was not made after completion of the project. Arya had staged protests, demonstrations and even fasted several times regarding this issue.
‘My hard work has been taken away’ – Rohit Arya
In one of his earlier statements, Rohit had said that if he committed suicide, former minister Deepak Kesarkar, his private secretary Mangesh Shinde and some officials would be responsible for it. He had said, ‘They made me work and then even denied my presence.’ Arya said that he was completely ignored by the system and his ideas were used by the government without credit.
Cleanliness of government and officers
On Rohit’s allegations, Education Secretary Ranjit Singh Deol said that no consent was given for any payment to Arya. He said, ‘Rohit Arya had done the work voluntarily and he was also given a certificate for it. There was no dues to the government. At the same time, former minister Deepak Kesarkar also said that Arya had got work in the ‘Sanitation Monitor’ project and had taken payment directly from the department.
17 children held hostage on the pretext of audition
On Thursday afternoon, Powai Police received information that a person had taken children hostage in RA Studio. Police and Quick Reaction Team (QRT) reached the spot and conducted an operation within 35 minutes and rescued all 17 children and two adults safely. An air gun, some chemicals and a lighter were found with Arya. When he tried to fire at the police, the police retaliated, injuring him and he later died in the hospital.
Said in the viral video- ‘I want to talk’
Before entering the studio, Arya had released a video on social media. In it he was saying, ‘I am Rohit Arya. Instead of committing suicide, I made a plan and took some children hostage. My demands are moral, I just want to talk, I am not a terrorist. He had warned that if the police made the slightest mistake, he would set the room on fire.
Opposition targets government
Congress Mumbai president Varsha Gaikwad described the incident as a ‘failure of law and order’ and accused the state government of negligence. He said, ‘Rohit Arya repeatedly raised his demands with the government, but he was not listened to. Today, due to the same carelessness, the lives of many children are in danger.
(with language inputs)