No charges for Hindu Temple of Ga. head

By Andria Simmons

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Gwinnett authorities have dropped criminal charges against the Hindu Temple of Georgia’s leader, Annamalai Annamalai, also known as “Dr. Commander Selvam.”

Annamalai was arrested in November on charges of theft and practicing medicine without a license. A devotee of the Norcross-based temple accused him of charging her credit card without permission. Another woman also said he doled out medical advice to her.

Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said the state law for practicing medicine without a license provides an exception for religious healers. He also said that there was no evidence linking Annamalai to the credit card charges.

Reached by phone Tuesday, Annamalai said the case was trumped up by two conspirators against the temple and a Gwinnett County police detective. Jerry Froelich, his attorney, said he was confident all along that the charges would be dropped.

“They were neither supported by facts nor the law,” Froelich said.