Maharashtra Red Tapism Blamed for Rohit Arya’s Death in Police Encounter

MUMBAI: The tragic encounter of Rohit Arya, who was shot dead by police after taking children hostage, has once again exposed the harsh reality of Maharashtra government red tapism.

Rohit Arya was associated with the state education department’s Swachata Monitor project. As a project consultant, he was entitled to receive Rs 2 crore in fees from the Maharashtra government. However, despite multiple appeals and peaceful demonstrations, the payment was never released.

Arya even resorted to a hunger strike and staged a protest outside the residence of then Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar, where he collapsed and had to be taken away in an ambulance. Yet, his dues remained pending till his death.

Maharashtra Government Red Tapism Leads to Tragic End

Former Education Minister and Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar acknowledged Rohit Arya’s role in the project but criticized his extreme method of protest. Kesarkar said the government had budgeted funds to clear such pending dues but claimed Arya had collected money from students. “We asked him to return the money collected from students so that his payment could be processed. Unfortunately, his step of holding children hostage cost him his life. The safety of the children was our priority,” Kesarkar stated.

Contractors Suffer Under Maharashtra Government Red Tapism

NCP SP MLA and former minister Jitendra Awhad condemned the situation, saying that many contractors like Arya are still struggling to get payments for their completed government projects. “It is painful that someone had to resort to such desperate actions just to get what was rightfully his. We do not support his method, but the system’s failure pushed him toward it,” Awhad said.

Repeated Pattern of Negligence by the State System

Awhad further compared Arya’s death to that of a female doctor from Satara who allegedly took her own life after being harassed by the system. “Both were victims of a broken administrative structure. Whether it was suicide or an encounter, both deaths highlight how the system crushes its own people,” he added.

Call for Reform in Government Payment Procedures

The incident has reignited debates around bureaucratic inefficiency and the urgent need for reform in government payment procedures. Many activists argue that delays, corruption, and lack of accountability within departments are causing undue suffering for contractors, consultants, and employees across Maharashtra.

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