‘A disgusting act of hatred,’: Georgia woman gets Indian-origin man arrested for attempted kidnapping of 2YO, but evidence tells a different story

Mahendra Patel, a 57-year-old Indian-origin engineer from Kennesaw, Georgia, was arrested on March 18, 2025, for allegedly attempting to kidnap a 2-year-old boy at a Walmart in Acworth, near Atlanta. Patel’s accuser, Caroline Miller, claimed that Patel tried to abduct her son while they were shopping, but surveillance footage from the store has since raised serious doubts about her version of events.

According to the original police report, Miller said Patel approached her and her two children inside the Walmart. She claimed Patel grabbed her 2-year-old son by the arm and attempted to walk away with him, sparking a frantic struggle before she managed to pull her child back and alert store employees. Miller insisted that he intended to kidnap her son.

Patel’s account and the surveillance footage

But Patel and his attorneys have offered a starkly different account. Patel maintains that he approached Miller to ask for assistance in locating Tylenol. According to CNN, he insists he only touched Miller’s child as the boy seemed to slip from Miller’s lap while she was riding in a motorized scooter. Patel said there was no struggle and that when Miller reacted, he walked away.

Patel’s lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, told CNN, “The surveillance video is very clear that this was not a kidnapping, or attempted kidnapping. There was no struggle. There was nothing like that.”

Judge grants bond

After spending 45 days in Cobb County Jail, Patel was granted a $10,000 bond on May 6, 2025, by Judge A. Gregory Poole. The judge noted Patel’s strong ties to the community, his clean criminal record, and his background as an engineer in making the decision. The courtroom reportedly erupted in applause when the bond decision was announced, reflecting growing public skepticism about the validity of the charges.

Miller’s other legal Battle

Adding another layer to the controversy, Miller is also involved in a separate, high-profile class action lawsuit against the rideshare giant Lyft seeking $1 million in damages, claiming that she was abducted and sexually assaulted by a passenger while working as a Lyft driver. According to her lawsuit, the alleged attacker, Kenneth Kelley, was part of a robbery ring targeting rideshare drivers. This case remains ongoing, with no resolution reported as of now.

The conflicting narratives and emerging evidence in Patel’s case have sparked broader discussions about the rush to judgment in such incidents and the importance of corroborating claims before making arrests. While Miller maintains that she acted to protect her child, Patel’s supporters argue that his arrest was a tragic mistake fueled by a misunderstanding and racial bias.

One comment on Patel’s Change.org petition seeking his release stated, “To punish a person for helping you just because of the color of their skin is not only wrong, but a disgusting act of hatred and vitriol. There is clear video evidence not only proving that Mr. Patel is innocent, but that he acted as a good citizen should and swooped in when a child was in danger.”

The comment added, “This is not how we treat a man who helps his fellow man. We the People demand that he be freed at once, and compensated for the misconduct and wrongful arrest that our police force has committed.”