Police have seized mobile phones as they probe anti-Islamic text messages allegedly sent by a Dundee councillor.
Officers are examining devices, one of which belongs to the female recipient of the communications, who The Courier has chosen not to name.
Detectives believe the other is Craig Melville’s, the man at the centre of the investigation.
The Maryfield councillor was reported to Police Scotland after he was alleged to have sent derogatory messages to a Muslim fellow party member in Dundee.
A spokeswoman for Police Scotland confirmed inquiries were ongoing but would not comment on any specifics.
Mr Melville has not been seen since details of his texts were made public. However, a colleague has said his absence will not affect constituents.
Maryfield SNP councillor Ken Lynn said he and Georgia Cruickshank, the ward’s Labour councillor, will be able to deal with all constituency issues while Craig Melville is unavailable.
Mr Melville is convener of the local authority’s environment committee, which was due to meet next Monday, but which the council has decided to cancel.
It is the first time in four years the meeting has been cancelled.
A council spokesman said there was no committee business to conduct but Labour environment spokesman Richard McCready disagreed.
He said: “It was surprising that council officers were trying to arrange to brief me on issues which were going to be on the agenda at the same time as other officers were telling me there was no business for the meeting.
“To my mind there are important issues to be addressed ahead of the budget meeting. These include the proposed loss of 45 jobs in the department in street cleaning and other frontline environmental services.
“The SNP administration is content to allow Melville to continue to serve as convener but they appear not to want him to actually do his job.”
Mr Melville has not been responding to phone calls and has not been seen at his home since the middle of January.
Labour group leader Kevin Keenan said: “I am really surprised by the administration’s decision. I would have thought they would have put an item on the agenda about replacing him but it seems he wants to disappear quietly.
“Technically he is still a councillor and a convener drawing a public salary.”