Personallly, I have a real problem with anyone who is accused of bullying and basically says - I didn't mean to be a bully, therefore I am not a bully, and the error rests fairly and squarely with the person I bullied, because I didn't mean to, therefore the fault is theirs.
It's like people who say "I call a spade a spade ... " and "I believe in plain speaking, and saying what I think ..." and what that's actually shorthand for is -
I lack even the basics of the notion of empathy, and I believe my view is more important that anyone else's, and I shall share it loudly and often, and anyone who doesn't agree with me is an over-sensitive idiot.
Just because Ms Patel says she "did not mean to be a bully" does not mean that she did not behave like one.
In my view, it is not for her subordinates to have to accept her behaviour on the basis that, some time in the future, she will explain it away as being something that was simply misunderstood at the time.
The notion of bullying is in the hands of the bullied, not the bully - everyone can always explain away any bad situation by saying they 'didn't mean it'.
But that is not how the world works.
If I drive down the road and run someone over, i can;t get out of my car and say - I don't know you and clearly did not wish you any harm, so you haven't actually got broken bones and blood coming out of your ears, because I 'didn't mean it'.
Intent is not the measure, it's the damage done, and I think Ms atel has got away lightly - although obviously I know no details, but the way that this has been framed is wrong.