BY VEENA RAO
Atlanta, GA, May 7, 2025: Mahendra Patel walked out of jail Tuesday afternoon to cheers and embraces from family and supporters after being released on a $10,000 bond. Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Patel expressed both relief and disbelief over the ordeal that kept him behind bars for 47 days.
“It feels great. Finally, I’m out,” Patel said, visibly emotional. “I’m so happy to be back with my family—my daughters, my circle.”
Patel, who faces serious charges that he denies, said he was completely blindsided by his arrest. “I couldn’t even dream of someone accusing me of something like this,” he said. “At first, I didn’t even know why they were arresting me. I thought they had the wrong guy.”
While in jail, Patel said he relied on faith and inner strength to persevere. He spent time reading the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred Hindu scripture. One moment that stood out to him was when a white inmate saw him reading the book and asked if he could have a copy.
“I told him, ‘Of course,’” Patel recalled. “We’ll send you ten if you want. It felt like a bigger, deeper message.”
Patel’s daughter, Elena, played a pivotal role in organizing legal support and public outreach during his incarceration. He thanked her and his attorney, Ashley Merchant, for working tirelessly on his behalf. A petition calling for his release garnered over 47,000 signatures and drew supporters from across the country—and even abroad—who rallied behind him on social media and in person at the courthouse.
Patel said he was deeply moved by the show of solidarity. “I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay the support I’ve received,” he said.
When asked about the accusations against him and statements made by his accuser, Caroline Miller, Patel declined to respond directly. “We take everything in life positively,” he said. “Whatever comes, it’s her karma. We go on with our life.”
Though his legal battle is far from over, Patel called his release the “first step in the right direction” and reiterated his belief in the principle of innocent until proven guilty.
He said his immediate plans included a shower, a home-cooked meal, and spending precious time with his family.
“I’m picky about food,” he laughed, “but anything is better than what I had over there.”
Related: Judge Grants Bond for Mahendra Patel in High-Profile Case | NRI Pulse
