The Maharashtra government has stated that expenditure details presented by Rohit Arya, the man who held 19 people hostage at a Powai acting studio on Thursday before being killed in a police operation, were “vague and exaggerated”, adding that his proposed projects lacked technical clarity and proper documentation.
According to official documents, Arya’s media firm Apsara Media Entertainment Network had launched the Swachhta Monitor initiative under the “Let’s Change” project, initially approved through a government resolution dated September 27, 2022. The state also cleared a follow-up proposal on June 30, 2023, and disbursed Rs 9.9 lakh for the first phase of the campaign.
Later, in 2023-24, the education department sanctioned Rs 2 crore under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala (My School, Beautiful School) campaign to conduct the second phase of Swachhta Monitor. However, officials said the expenditure details and project parameters submitted by Arya were “unclear and inflated.”
“The components such as advertising, management costs, technical support, and expenses for online distribution of the film Let’s Change were found to be vague and exaggerated. No clear details were provided about assessment metrics, operational guidelines, or compliance with minimum standards,” the government note said.
Due to these “technical irregularities” and lack of clarity on the project’s execution, the Swachhta Monitor Phase 2 initiative was not implemented.
FRESH PROPOSAL AND VIOLATIONS
In 2024-25, Arya again sought government approval to reintroduce the Swachhta Monitor initiative across all state schools, seeking Rs 2.41 crore in funding. However, during the review of this proposal, officials found that Arya’s firm had already started collecting registration fees from schools through its private website — swachhtamonito.in — without any official clearance.
Following this discovery, the state issued directives on August 23, 2024, instructing the Education Commissioner in Pune to:
- Recover the fees collected by Apsara Media Entertainment Network and deposit them into the government account.
- Obtain a written undertaking from the firm that it would not charge any school for participation.
- Resubmit the proposal only after these conditions were fulfilled.
- Officials said no further action could be taken as Arya failed to furnish the required information.
NO DUE CREDIT OR PAYMENT CLAIM
Arya had long claimed that the government had implemented his original concept, Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala, without giving him due credit or payment. He alleged that the entire initiative was derived from his film Let’s Change, which he said formed the basis of the cleanliness awareness campaign.
He repeatedly accused the state of denying him recognition and non-payment of dues, leading to a series of protests and a hunger strike in 2023. Then Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar had met Arya and promised resolution, but the matter reportedly stalled due to pending departmental enquiries.
POLICE OPERATION AND DEATH
On Thursday, Arya took 19 people – including 17 children and a senior citizen – hostage at RA Studio in Powai, where acting workshops were underway. He was armed with an airgun, chemicals, and a lighter, and threatened to set the place on fire in a video message.
After a 35-minute standoff, during which Arya opened fire on officers, police stormed the studio through a bathroom entrance. The lead commander, who was negotiating with Arya, fired back after assessing an imminent threat. Arya was hit by a bullet and later died in hospital. All hostages were safely rescued, said the police officials.
– Ends
