Mahendra Patel freed on bond after 45 days in jail

Indian American engineer was accused of trying to abduct a child at Walmart; judge grants a bond after seeing video

By Arun Kumar

After spending 45 days in jail, Mahendra Patel, an Indian American engineer accused by a mother of trying to grab her 2-year-old son from her at a Georgia Walmart, has been released on a $10,000 bond.

“I’m going to grant this man a bond. He’s entitled to a bond,” Cobb County Superior Court Judge A. Gregory Poole said in court Tuesday, CNN reported.

READ: Indian American man shot dead in Chicago park (April 18th, 2025) 

Patel’s lawyer, Ashleigh Merchant, presented her case as to why he should be released by showing the judge a compilation of security footage that she subpoenaed from Walmart and shared with media outlets.

They show the March 18 incident at a Walmart in the city of Acworth, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. Merchant said Patel was just trying to make sure the boy didn’t fall from a scooter his mother was riding on with him in her lap.

Patel had the support of numerous people who were in another room at the courthouse, including friends, relatives and neighbors, the attorney told the judge.

The footage is somewhat grainy and Patel’s back obscures part of what is happening, according to CNN.

Prosecutors argued the video shows Patel grabbed the child, he shouldn’t have and he fled after the incident.

Merchant contended Patel did not flee the scene, and that he has strong ties in the community, such as property ownership, a wife and daughters, volunteering at local nonprofits and being a member of organizations such as the Kiwanis Club.

Cobb County Chief Assistant District Attorney Jesse Evans said Patel was previously convicted of a felony for a financial scheme and was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

“I’m not worried about that. I don’t believe he poses a risk to the community,” said Poole. “The evidence from the video, and I won’t comment on what I think the video really shows, as far as guilt or innocence. It’s not my job today. But the facts do show me that he hung around, and I don’t find that he’s a flight risk based upon what I saw in the video,” Poole said.

Caroline Miller, 26, told police Patel asked for help finding Tylenol at the Walmart. She said Patel tried to grab her 2-year-old son from her, but she pulled the child back.

A grand jury indicted Patel on April 3 on charges of criminal attempt to commit kidnapping, simple assault and simple battery, according to court documents.

Patel, 57, spent his birthday in jail, according to his attorney.

Leading community advocacy organization Indian American Impact too came out in support of “wrongfully detained” Patel over “a baseless accusation of alleged kidnapping.”

“This moment demands all of us to show up and speak out,” it said in an appeal to the community ahead of his bond hearing.

“This could have been any of us –  or our parents, uncles, or grandparents – just running an errand and being misjudged, criminalized, and detained,” it said. “We want to uplift the incredible organizing being led on the ground in Georgia pushing for Mahendra’s release and accountability in how this case has been handled.”