An Indian-origin man in Georgia is demanding a public apology from law enforcement after spending 47 days in jail on what turned out to be false kidnapping charges.
Mahendra Patel, 62, was arrested in March when a woman at a Walmart accused him of trying to snatch her two-year-old son from a mobility scooter. Surveillance footage later cleared him, showing Patel had only reached out to prevent the child from falling. The charges were dropped earlier this month.
In an interview with NDTV, Patel described the ordeal as “harrowing,” saying his health, reputation, and peace of mind have been shattered. “I lost 17 pounds in jail. I didn’t get my medicines for days. I’m vegetarian, so I lived on bread, peanut butter, and milk,” he recalled. He also said other inmates taunted and threatened him, with some demanding money for protection.
Outside of jail, Patel’s family endured online abuse, with strangers posting that he should be deported or even killed. The surveillance footage eventually proved there had been no confrontation, and Patel insists the truth was always clear. “The footage shows I calmly walked past the woman several times before leaving. I only touched the child to stop him from falling.”
Now free, Patel is not asking for compensation but accountability. “I demand a public apology from the police and the district attorney. They must explain what steps they’ll take so no other innocent person suffers the way I did,” he said.