A 42-year-old man has died in an Adelaide hospital in what is being treated as a death in police custody.
Gaurav Kundi was arrested in the Adelaide suburb of Royston Park in the early hours of 29 May, according to South Australian police. Kundi “became unresponsive” during the arrest and was hospitalised, SA police said.
He died on Friday at Royal Adelaide hospital, two weeks after he was detained.
“Mr Kundi passed away as a result of the incident at Royston Park,” police said at a press conference on Friday.
SA police said Kundi’s death would be investigated as a death in police custody.
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The major crime investigation branch will investigate the cause and circumstances and prepare a report for the coroner, while the Office of Public Integrity has independent oversight of the investigation into the conduct of the police officers involved.
A commissioner’s inquiry was announced on 3 June, the statement said. Its senior investigating officer has reviewed body-worn vision.
“It has been confirmed that at no time was a knee applied to Mr Kundi’s neck,” the statement said. “His head was not forced into the car or roadway at any point.
“However, the use of restraints during this incident will be closely examined during the Commissioner’s Inquiry.”
At the time Kundi was being detained, all officers directly involved were wearing activated cameras but one camera fell from a vest, police said in the press conference.
“They endeavoured to position that camera while it was still operating but separated from the officer so it would continue to record.”
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SA police have briefed the Indian consulate on the investigation and will update it on developments.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, was asked whether the death would damage India-Australia relations at a press conference on Friday.
“I would say to the Indian community here in Australia and the broader Indian community, this is an investigation that will be done properly,” Wong said.
“Be assured of our friendship certainly with India, but also the importance of the Indian diaspora here in Australia.”
Anne Aly, the minister for multicultural affairs, said “trust between people of migrant background and the institutions that govern them, including the police” was “something that contributes to social cohesion”.
