The Dundee councillor at the centre of a religious hate probe will continue to sit on Dundee City Council while investigations into his conduct take place.
Craig Melville has been suspended from the SNP and could now face an investigation by the Standards Committee after he was reported by council leader Ken Guild.
The council has, however, confirmed that Mr Melville remains a councillor and will continue to represent his Maryfield ward.
Though he retains that status, it is understood that while under investigation he will be unable to fulfil his role as environment convener.
That post and its duties will be filled by his deputy Councillor Vari McDonald until the matter is brought to a close or a new convner appointed.
Mr Melville is said to have sent Islamaphobic text messages to an unnamed Muslim colleague after last year’s Paris terror attacks.
He is said to have described Islam as a “horrible disease” and told the woman he hated her religion, while also criticising the SNP’s international development minister Humza Yousaf.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, the council said that “if true”, the allegations were “extremely shocking” and “not the sort of behaviour acceptable for a member of Dundee City Council.”
Former lord provost Mervyn Rolfe, who served between 1996 and 1999, said Mr Melville is not fit to hold public office if the allegations are true.
Mr Rolfe, who lives in the Maryfield ward represented by Mr Melville, said he believed the councillor should be charged if he did send the texts.
He said: “If he wrote what is alleged, it is not compatible with public office.”
A police spokeswoman said they were aware of the allegations but that no complaint has been made about Mr Melville at this stage.
Mr Melville has also been suspended from his job as an aide to Dundee East MP and SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie.
Mr Hosie has not commented and, as Mr Melville’s employer, will not do so until a party investigation is concluded.