Gaurav Kundi, a 42-year-old Indian-origin man residing in Modbury North, Adelaide, Australia, has died days after an encounter with police that involved an officer allegedly kneeling on his neck during an attempted arrest. He passed away on Thursday, surrounded by his family, after being hospitalized with what was described as an "unrecoverable" brain injury.
The incident occurred on May 29 in Royston Park when police responded to reports of a public argument between Kundi and his wife, Amritpal Kaur. Police have stated that they witnessed an "altercation" between Kundi and his wife and that Kundi "violently resisted" arrest and was intoxicated. Kaur, however, disputes this account, stating that her husband was simply drunk and loud, not violent. She admitted he had pushed her slightly during the argument. She also said that a passing police patrol mistook the incident for domestic violence.
Kaur recorded a portion of the arrest on her phone. The video footage shows Kundi being restrained by police while he and Kaur loudly protested. In the video, Kundi can be heard repeatedly saying, "I've done nothing wrong," while Kaur pleads with the officers, stating that they were acting unfairly. Kaur claims she stopped filming after an officer allegedly placed a knee on her husband's neck. She told 9News that she panicked and stopped the camera when Kundi became unresponsive. "Just 19 seconds of video because I got panicked and I just sat on the ground with Gaurav. I kept saying he's not well, he's not well, please don't do this, just call the ambulance," she recounted. Kundi was then rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he remained in critical condition until his death.
The South Australia Police have acknowledged the incident and confirmed that no taser or firearm was used during the arrest. While they stated that Kundi "violently resisted" arrest, a senior investigating officer has reviewed body-worn vision and confirmed that at no time was a knee applied to Mr. Kundi's neck and his head was not forced into the car or roadway at any point. They have also stated that they are "comfortable" with how the officers acted, based on a preliminary review of bodycam footage. However, the use of restraints during this incident will be closely examined during the Commissioner's Inquiry.
The incident has sparked significant controversy and drawn comparisons to the death of George Floyd in the United States in 2020. Floyd, a Black American man, died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly ten minutes. Kundi's death has ignited public outrage and demands for accountability, raising questions about the use of force by law enforcement, particularly against individuals from minority backgrounds.
South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has announced that a Commissioner's Inquiry will be conducted, in addition to an internal investigation by detectives. The inquiry will review the police department's policies, practices, procedures, and training related to responding to such incidents.
