LONG ISLAND (TIP) : Indian American surgeon Dr. Venkatesh Sasthakonar has been cleared of all criminal charges by a judge in Nassau County, Long Island, according to news reports.

The well-known surgeon was accused by a nurse of allegedly trying to strangle her with an ‘elastic cord’ following differences over some medical procedures. But a judge exonerated him on Feb. 20, and police said there was insufficient evidence that any crime occurred after examining videos and talking to colleagues at the hospital. The 44-year old doctor is a veteran weight-loss surgeon. He  had consistently maintained his innocence. News reports quoted the doctor’s attorney saying the nurse’s story was a complete lie.

Outside the courtroom after the judge pronounced the verdict, Dr. Sasthakonar was surrounded by friends and well-wishers . He occasionally became emotional as he recounted his traumatic experience.

“What happened to me didn’t hurt me,” he is quoted saying in the abc7ny report, adding, “What happened to (my wife) and the kids is what hurt me…I thought being a good person could protect you against bad things happening to you, against evil. I don’t trust that anymore.” Dr. Sasthakonar is married to an internal medicine physician.

“I hope nobody goes through this hell including the person who started all this,” Sasthakonar’s wife is quoted saying in the cbslocal.com report, adding, “What happened in the past month was a nightmare.”

“After thoroughly reviewing this case, interviewing witnesses and analyzing surveillance video, it has been determined there is not enough evidence to support that a crime occurred,” Brendan Brosh, a spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney’s office, is quoted saying in a statement on cbslocal.com.