Indian-origin man Gaurav Kundi dies after neck restraint by Adelaide police during arrest, sparking public outrage and official investigation

A 42-year-old Indian-origin man, Gaurav Kundi, has died in Adelaide, Australia, following an attempted police arrest that turned fatal. His death—linked to alleged neck restraint by a police officer—has triggered multiple investigations and drawn widespread public outcry, with comparisons to the 2020 George Floyd incident in the United States. Community leaders, legal observers, and rights groups have demanded answers as scrutiny mounts over policing standards in South Australia.

What happened to Gaurav Kundi during the arrest attempt by South Australia Police in Adelaide?

On May 29, South Australia Police responded to a suspected domestic disturbance involving Gaurav Kundi and his wife, Amritpal Kaur, near Payneham Road in Royston Park, Adelaide. Officers claimed they observed an altercation that prompted them to intervene. Police allege that Kundi was heavily intoxicated and violently resisted arrest, but Kaur strongly refutes that version of events.

Kaur, who recorded part of the incident, said her husband was loud but not violent. In the video, Kundi is seen and heard shouting, “I’ve done nothing wrong,” as police attempt to subdue him. Kaur can be heard pleading with officers, stating that Kundi needed medical help, not force.

Shortly after the physical confrontation, Kundi became unresponsive. He was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was placed on life support. Doctors confirmed that he had suffered a severe brain injury. He remained in critical condition for two weeks before being pronounced dead on June 13, surrounded by family, including his father who traveled from India.

How are South Australian authorities investigating the police use of force in the Gaurav Kundi case?

In response to public outrage and the severity of Kundi’s injuries, South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens announced a formal Commissioner’s Inquiry on June 3. This inquiry began before Kundi’s death and is being led by a Chief Superintendent. Its focus includes a full review of officer conduct, training, use-of-force protocol, and the body-worn camera footage from all officers involved.

Commissioner Stevens addressed the media after the footage was reviewed, stating that, contrary to public speculation, no officer was seen placing a knee on Kundi’s neck or slamming his head against a vehicle or the ground. However, restraint techniques used during the arrest remain under investigation.

In parallel, the Major Crime Investigation Branch is preparing a detailed report for the State Coroner. Independent oversight is also being exercised by the Office of Public Integrity and the Director of Public Prosecutions. All four officers present during the arrest were equipped with body cameras, though one camera was reportedly dislodged during the altercation and continued to record from the ground.

Why are comparisons being made to the George Floyd case and what has been the public reaction?

The incident has evoked strong parallels to the 2020 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, where a police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes during an arrest. That death sparked a global wave of protests against police brutality and institutional racism.

Kaur alleges that once she stopped recording, an officer placed his knee on her husband’s neck. She claims Kundi’s head was also pushed into a police car and then into the roadway. These unverified claims have reignited global memories of the Floyd case, especially within Indian and international media, prompting hashtags like #JusticeForGauravKundi and #KneeOnNeck to trend across social media.

Community leaders in Adelaide’s Indian diaspora, including prominent voices like Sunny Singh, have demanded transparency, accountability, and justice. Singh, a close friend of Kundi, emphasized the potential damage incidents like this pose to community trust in law enforcement, particularly among migrant populations.

What has the Australian government said about the case and has there been a diplomatic response?

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong addressed the incident carefully, underscoring that the Indian community is an “integral part of Australia’s multicultural fabric.” She expressed confidence in the integrity of South Australia’s investigation process and emphasized that public concern would be met with transparency and diligence.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Anne Aly echoed these sentiments, calling for calm but also reaffirming that people of migrant backgrounds deserve equal treatment and protection under Australian law. Aly noted the importance of “institutional trust” and said that regaining public confidence would depend on the independence and thoroughness of the investigative process.

As of June 16, 2025, India has not issued a formal diplomatic protest, but several Indian media outlets have given prominent coverage to the incident, including front-page headlines in The Hindu, Deccan Chronicle, and Times of India, reflecting widespread concern across the Indian public and diaspora.

How does this incident reflect ongoing challenges with police oversight and race relations in Australia?

While Australia has not experienced police violence at the same scale as the United States, there have been ongoing concerns over law enforcement practices involving Indigenous Australians and ethnic minorities. Data from watchdog bodies have pointed to systemic gaps in training related to mental health, cultural sensitivity, and conflict de-escalation.

Kundi’s case has reignited this discussion, particularly about the use of force on intoxicated individuals. Civil liberties organizations such as the Human Rights Law Centre and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) have renewed their calls for national reform in police training and accountability frameworks.

Legal experts have also noted that the burden of proof often lies disproportionately with victims’ families in police-related deaths, particularly when video evidence is inconclusive or contested.

What is the current status of the investigation and what happens next for the Kundi family?

As of this report, the investigation into Gaurav Kundi’s death remains active. Police have not released the names of the officers involved, and no charges have been filed. The release of the full bodycam footage has not yet occurred, pending coroner review and legal consultations.

The Kundi family, meanwhile, is seeking legal representation and has expressed a desire to see all video evidence made public. They have asked for a transparent and independent investigation into the incident. According to Kaur, only full public access to the footage will provide clarity and accountability.

Support from within the Adelaide Indian community continues to grow. Vigils, peaceful protests, and media campaigns have been launched across major Australian cities including Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth. Community groups have started petitions demanding stronger oversight of police power and more culturally sensitive policing reforms.

Will the death of Gaurav Kundi lead to lasting changes in policing policy in South Australia?

Whether Kundi’s death will lead to lasting institutional change in South Australia remains uncertain. Commissioner Stevens has suggested that the incident will be used to review current restraint and arrest techniques. However, critics argue that similar promises were made after past deaths in custody, including cases involving Aboriginal Australians, without significant legislative change.

There is growing pressure from both local and national advocacy groups to ensure that this case does not fade without reform. These include calls for mandatory psychological screening for officers involved in high-intensity arrests, stricter use-of-force guidelines, and external civilian oversight panels.

The final report from the Coroner’s Court, expected in the coming months, will likely determine the legal and policy path forward. Until then, the death of Gaurav Kundi remains a sobering reminder of the challenges facing police-community relations in Australia and the urgency of upholding human rights standards in all law enforcement practices.