In a dramatic turn of events, the Rohit Arya case – where 17 children were taken hostage in Mumbai and Arya was later shot dead by police – has reopened questions about alleged unpaid dues to his CSR project. According to Arya’s wife, her husband was owed nearly ₹2 crore by the Maharashtra Government for the so-called “Swachhta Monitor” initiative.
In response, the state government issued an official statement denying any such payment was sanctioned. The release specifies that while Swachhta Monitor was approved in 2021 with funding of just ₹9 lakh, subsequent proposals – including Swachhta Monitor 2.0 and a ₹6.14 crore scheme for 2024-25 – never received official clearance.
Arya had earlier claimed that his project, which he said was adopted by the state’s education department under the banner “Let’s Change – PLC Swachhata Monitor”, had been sidelined once it gained government traction. He alleged that the state’s support had vanished, leaving his team unpaid and unrecognised.
The government, however, countered these claims. It stated that Arya’s organisation continued to operate without authorisation, reportedly collecting funds from schools via its website without formal approval. Former Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar also noted that Arya had received personal financial help but no departmental payments were officially due.
As investigations into the hostage episode proceed, the allegations of unpaid dues add a complex layer – one that combines policy implementation, oversight, and accountability. For now, the Maharashtra government maintains it has no outstanding payment to Arya’s organisation, leaving a gap between personal claims and official records.
