Gaurav Kundi, a 42-year-old Indian-origin man from Modbury North, Adelaide, died on June 13, 2025, at Royal Adelaide Hospital, days after a violent police encounter on May 29, 2025, on Payneham Road, Royston Park. Kundi, a father of two, was allegedly kneed in the neck by a South Australian police officer during an arrest, leading to severe brain and neck injuries that left him in a coma. His wife, Amritpal Kaur, filmed part of the incident, capturing Kundi shouting, “I’ve done nothing wrong,” while she pleaded with officers, claiming they mistook a loud argument for domestic violence. Kaur stated Kundi was drunk but not violent, and she stopped filming when an officer allegedly knelt on his neck, a scene drawing comparisons to the 2020 George Floyd case in the US. Police claim Kundi “violently resisted” arrest, but Kaur alleged excessive force, including his head being slammed against a police car and the road.
South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has launched a Commissioner-level inquiry, alongside an internal investigation by the Major Crime Investigation Branch, to review body-cam footage and police procedures. Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia initially defended the officers, citing body-cam evidence, but the ongoing probe involves the State Coroner and Office of Public Integrity. The incident has sparked outrage, with media and X posts comparing it to George Floyd’s death, raising concerns about police brutality and potential racial bias.
This incident has no direct connection to the Middle East tensions discussed earlier, involving Israel, Iran, and Russia’s balancing act, or the EU’s trade negotiations with the US. However, it reflects broader global discussions on police conduct, which could resonate with regional actors like the EU, focused on human rights, though their primary concern remains trade and Middle East stability.