Mahendra Patel, an Indian-origin man who spent 47 days in jail after being falsely accused of attempting to kidnap a child in Georgia, says he turned to the Bhagavad Gita for strength during his incarceration. Released earlier this week on a $10,000 bond, Patel was freed after his lawyer presented surveillance footage she claimed clearly disproved the allegations.
The incident occurred on March 18 at a Walmart in Cobb County, where Patel approached 26-year-old Caroline Miller to ask for directions to Tylenol. Miller, who was in a motorized scooter with her two children, later accused Patel of attempting to abduct her child and physically assaulting her.
According to Miller, a brief struggle ensued—a claim she described as a “tug-of-war” over her child. However, Patel’s attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, argued that the store’s surveillance video told a different story. She said the footage showed no signs of a struggle, and that Patel had merely interacted with Miller again later to inform her that he had found the medication.
Patel paid for his purchase and left the store, only to be arrested two days later. The case sparked widespread discussion, particularly within the local Indian-American community.
Speaking after his release, Patel said he was shocked by the arrest and the accusations. “I couldn’t even dream of being accused of something like this,” he said. “At first, I didn’t even know why they were arresting me. I thought they had the wrong guy.”
During his time in Cobb County Jail, Patel said he found comfort in reading the Bhagavad Gita. One fellow inmate, he recalled, even expressed interest in the scripture. “He asked me what I was reading, and then he wanted a copy,” Patel said. “I told him, ‘Of course. We’ll send you ten if you want.’ It felt like a bigger, deeper message.”
When asked about the woman who accused him, Patel simply said, “It’s her karma. We go on with our lives.” He declined to comment on whether he believed race played a role in the incident.
Patel’s lawyer further claimed that Caroline Miller has a substantial history with law enforcement, referencing over 20 police reports filed in the past seven years involving her.
