A tragic development has emerged in the case of 42-year-old Indian-origin man Gaurav Kundi, who became unresponsive during a police arrest on Payneham Road in Adelaide two weeks ago.
Sunny Singh, City Councillor at Port Augusta City Council, broke the news of Gaurav Kundi’s death, posting on Facebook:
“With a broken heart 💔💔 we share that Mr. Gaurav Kundi has passed away this morning.”
Kundi has had his life support turned off at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he was being treated for severe brain and neck nerve injuries.
The incident has sparked outrage within South Australia’s Indian community and drawn comparisons in Indian media to the 2020 death of George Floyd in the United States.
Kundi’s partner, Amritpal Kaur, claims police used excessive force during the arrest, alleging that an officer drove a knee into Kundi’s neck — a claim South Australian police have denied.
Kaur told 9News she stopped filming the arrest out of panic when she saw the officer’s knee pressed against Kundi’s neck. She further alleged that Kundi’s head was slammed against both a police vehicle and the road during the struggle.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Kundi can be heard shouting in video footage obtained by 9News, as officers forced him to the ground while Kaur protested tearfully.
Police say they were called to a domestic disturbance and that Kundi violently resisted arrest after leaving his home intoxicated. However, Kaur insists the situation was misinterpreted and that her partner was drunk but not violent.
Earlier, Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia told media he was “comfortable” with the officers’ actions based on the footage he had seen, but acknowledged the investigation is ongoing.
“At this stage, there is nothing to support any allegations that a knee was placed on the person’s neck during the incident,” Police Commissioner Grant Stevens had stated, also dismissing claims of racial motivation.
South Australia Police have launched an internal investigation and are reviewing body-worn camera footage from the officers involved. Despite reassurances, the Indian-Australian community remained unconvinced.
It ws reported by 9News that Community advocate Preeti Nalavadi had written to the Police Minister on behalf of local Indian residents, calling for an independent inquiry, the suspension of involved officers, and the release of all footage to Kundi’s family.
“It just has shocked the entire community,” Nalavadi told 9News.
“There is a lot of anxiety and anger together. Could they have avoided the incident itself? That is the big question.”
Police Minister Stephen Mullighan acknowledged the concerns and the letter, noting its significance in reflecting the incident’s community impact.
“We are really grateful for that correspondence because it really highlights just how impactful this incident has been,” Mullighan said.
“But I don’t think it’s reasonable for anyone to be drawing any conclusions until we have the benefit of the investigation.”
Kundi’s death is likely to intensify calls for police accountability and transparency as members of the Indian-Australian community are reportedly planning a protest in the coming week to demand justice and action.
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