Indian man languishing in US jail for kidnapping that never was

Mahendra Patel, a man of Indian origin, has been languishing in an American jail for over a month now. Patel, the 56-year-old, was accused of a crime that surveillance footage suggests never happened. Caroline Miller, the 26-year-old woman, accused Patel of trying to abduct her two-year-old toddler son at Walmart in the US's Georgia on March 18.

Miller claimed that while shopping using a motorised cart with her two children, Patel first distracted her by asking for Tylenol and then tried to lift her son out of her lap, leading to what she described as a "tug of war" before she stopped him.

However, footage from Walmart, reviewed by The Daily Mail, painted a different picture. Video from 20 different angles reportedly showed no such struggle between Patel and Miller. Instead, it captured Patel and Miller interacting briefly.

Patel said he asked Miller for help locating Tylenol, a brand of acetaminophen used to relieve pain and reduce fever, for his ailing mother,

The videos showed no evidence of Patel grabbing or attempting to snatch the child.

PATEL ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING

Patel was arrested three days later and charged with kidnapping, simple battery, and simple assault. He is currently being held without bond at the Cobb County Adult Detention Centre.

The woman claimed that when she held a motorised shopping cart with her two-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, Patel stopped her to ask her where the Tylenol was. She added, Patel distracted her with the Tylenol question, then tried to lift her son Jude out of her lap.

Patel, however, claimed he only reached out to steady the boy, fearing he was about to fall, mistaking Miller for being disabled.

Patel's attorney, Ashleigh Merchant, said he was struggling inside the jail.

"He's not doing well. It's awful. He's being threatened. I mean, you can imagine, he's in here for child kidnapping. People in jail aren't treated well if they're accused of harming a child," Patel’s attorney, Merchant, told The Daily Mail.

Walmart footage reviewed by The Daily Mail appeared to contradict Miller’s version of events. While Miller describes a "tug of war" between her and Patel, 20 videos from different angles showed no such confrontation.

VIDEO SHOWS NO STRUGGLE BETWEEN PATEL AND MILLER

The videos show Patel and Miller interacting three times.

After Patel walked into the store, he approached Miller to ask for help in locating the Tylenol, a detail that both Miller and Patel’s attorney, Merchant, agree on, The Daily Mail reported.

Moments later, Miller and Patel cross paths again.

This was when Miller claimed Patel grabbed her son and wouldn't let go, leading to a struggle.

However, the video failed to show any struggle, according to The Daily Mail.