A father-of-two who was tackled to the ground by police and allegedly kneed in the neck remains in a critical condition with suspected brain damage.
Police allegedly witnessed an altercation between Gaurav Kundi, 42, and his partner Amritpal Kaur in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs in the early hours of Thursday.
According to authorities, Mr Kundi allegedly ‘violently resisted’ arrest before he became unresponsive while on the ground.
Footage filmed by his partner showed Mr Kundi screaming as several officers tried to detain him against a police car.
‘I’ve done nothing wrong,’ he shouted.
His frantic partner added: ‘Yeah, he hasn’t done anything, what the hell!’
The footage appeared to show police forcing Mr Kundi to the ground.
‘Oh my God! They are doing unfair!’ Ms Kaur screamed.
Ms Kaur alleged an officer put a knee into his neck after she stopped filming due to being in a state of panic.
Mr Kundi was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition, where he remains on life support.
His partner claims the incident would have been avoided had police asked what had happened.
‘They needed to ask first what we were doing,’ Ms Kaur told Daily Mail on Sunday night.
‘(The police) can’t do this s**t with someone’s life.’
Ms Kaur said that her partner spent the evening drinking before leaving their home.
She followed him and offered assistance while trying to convince him to come home.
Mr Kundi tried to push away her away, telling her he could walk himself.
It’s understood a passing patrol car mistook the incident for ‘domestic violence’.
‘I keep saying (to the police) he’s not well, he’s not well, please don’t do this, just call the ambulance,’ Ms Kaur said.
Daily Mail understands that she tried to warn police about Mr Kundi’s pre-existing health conditions, including his heart issues.
Doctors say his brain and neck nerves were damaged from hitting his head on the road during the arrest.
Nor they can guarantee that Mr Kundi will wake up from his coma.
All Ms Kaur can do now is remain by her partner’s bedside and pray that he will pull through.
No charges have been laid.
South n Police has launched an internal investigation into the incident as inquiries continue.
Authorities will examine ‘all evidence’, including body-worn footage.
SA Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia previously stated he was satisfied officers had acted appropriately.
‘I can say that from that evidence I’ve looked at, from that body-worn video, but it is only one portion, I’m comfortable, but that is only one police officer,’ he told reporters on Friday.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has also backed the officers.