Indian-origin man jailed in US over alleged kidnapping, CCTV footage shows it never occurred: Reports

A 56-year-old Indian-origin man, Mahendra Patel, has reportedly been in a Georgia jail for over a month, accused of an attempted kidnapping that surveillance footage suggests never occurred.

According to reports, Patel was arrested after a 26-year-old woman, Caroline Miller, alleged that he tried to abduct her two-year-old son while shopping at a Walmart store on March 18. 

Miller claimed that while she was using a motorised cart with her two children, Patel distracted her by asking for Tylenol (paracetamol) before allegedly attempting to lift her son from her lap — describing it as a tug of war incident.

However, security footage reviewed by The Daily Mail reportedly tells a different story. Video from nearly 20 angles inside the Walmart store allegedly showed no evidence of any struggle between Patel and Miller. Instead, the footage reportedly captured only a brief interaction between the two.

Patel has maintained his innocence, stating he merely asked Miller for assistance locating Tylenol, a common over-the-counter medication, for his sick mother. He also reportedly said he instinctively reached towards the child, fearing the boy was about to fall, and mistakenly believed Miller might have been physically disabled.

Despite the absence of visible evidence supporting the kidnapping accusation, Patel remains in jail without bond. His attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, has reportedly expressed serious concerns about Patel’s well-being behind bars.

Patel’s legal team is working to secure his release as they push for a thorough review of the evidence.