A 42-year-old Indian-origin man, Gaurav Kundi, died on June 13, 2025, after being restrained by South Australian Police in Royston Park, Adelaide . On May 29, officers responded to a minor domestic dispute on Payneham Road and attempted to arrest Kundi, tackling him face-down. Bystander footage and body-worn camera clips show an officer applying a knee to his neck .
Kundi was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with severe brain injuries. Doctors deemed his condition “unrecoverable,” placing him on life support until it was withdrawn on June 13, when he passed away surrounded by family . The South Australian Police deny using excessive force or placing a knee on Kundi’s neck, asserting their actions followed standard procedure for a non-compliant individual .
Three concurrent investigations have been launched: an internal police review, a formal Commissioner’s Inquiry, and a State Coroner’s inquest. The Director of Public Prosecutions and the Office of Public Integrity are overseeing the inquiries to ensure an independent examination of the use-of-force protocols and all available footage .
The Indian-Australian community has held vigils and called for transparency. Local cultural associations and human-rights groups liken the case to global debates on police restraint and demand accountability. The Consulate General of India in Sydney is monitoring the investigations, and Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, has pledged full cooperation with judicial processes to uphold trust between law enforcement and multicultural communities .
