Gaurav Kundi, father of two, suffered fatal brain injury during police custody following a domestic disturbance call
Gaurav Kundi, a 42-year-old Indian-origin man and father of two, has died in Australia after sustaining an unrecoverable brain injury while in police custody. His arrest, captured partly on video by his wife, involved a confrontation with South Australian police who responded to what they believed was a domestic violence incident. Kundi lost consciousness during the arrest and was later declared dead at the hospital surrounded by his family, 7News reported, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
The incident unfolded outside Kundi’s home where police responded to reports of a domestic disturbance. His wife, Amritpal Kaur, who filmed part of the arrest, claimed she had explained to officers that it was a loud verbal fight with her husband, not a violent altercation. Despite this, she alleged officers restrained Kundi forcefully, with one officer allegedly placing a knee on his neck.
Gaurav Kundi died days after a disputed police arrest; his wife says he was restrained with a ‘knee to the neck’ despite her pleas, sparking investigations.
In the video, Kundi can be heard shouting, “I’ve done nothing wrong.” Moments later, he became unresponsive, prompting his wife to stop recording out of fear.
South Australia Police have launched multiple investigations into the incident. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens confirmed that a Commissioner’s Inquiry would proceed alongside reviews by Major Crime and internal investigators. However, he also stated that after reviewing body-worn footage, it was confirmed that “at no time was a knee applied to Mr Kundi’s neck.” The footage also showed that his head was not forced into a car or the ground.
Still, authorities acknowledged that “the use of restraints during this incident will be closely examined” as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Kundi’s death has reignited discussions about use of force by law enforcement in Australia, particularly when responding to domestic calls involving minority communities. The case continues to receive attention as investigators probe the circumstances leading to his fatal injury.
