An Indian-origin man, Gaurav Kundi, 42, has died days after an attempted arrest by Australian police in which an officer allegedly knelt on his neck—an incident that has drawn comparisons to the George Floyd case in the US.
According to a report by 7News Australia, Kundi, a resident of Modbury North in Adelaide, passed away on Thursday, surrounded by his family. He had been hospitalised with what doctors described as an “unrecoverable” brain injury, sustained during the arrest.
The incident occurred on Payneham Road at Royston Park, where South Australian (SA) police responded to what they believed was a domestic violence situation between Kundi and his wife, Amritpal Kaur. Police alleged they had witnessed an “altercation” and attempted to intervene. However, Kaur later clarified that her husband was drunk and loud but not violent.
Mobile phone footage captured during the arrest showed Kundi resisting while yelling, “I’ve done nothing wrong,” as Kaur filmed and pleaded with officers, claiming the police were acting unfairly. Kundi reportedly became unresponsive during the incident and was rushed to the hospital shortly after.
Police maintained that Kundi was intoxicated and violently resisted arrest. They also stated that no taser was used and no one was shot during the operation. However, the force’s use of restraint has raised serious questions.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens told ABC Radio Adelaide that a full internal investigation is underway. “We are reviewing our policies, practices, and training, especially in how officers respond to incidents involving potential domestic disputes,” he said.
The case has sparked outrage and is being widely discussed in Australian media, with many noting the parallels with the 2020 killing of George Floyd in the US, where a Minneapolis officer knelt on the victim’s neck during an arrest.
The Indian community in Adelaide and civil rights advocates have called for a transparent and independent investigation into the incident. Kundi’s death has reignited concerns over excessive use of force and racial profiling in policing practices.