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Gahunia — whose full name is Gurnek Gahunia Singh — said in an interview with the Post he found the organization’s findings alarming.

“Someone who is supposed to be protecting us is participating in criminal acts. That just amazes me,” he said. “I do want these guys to know this isn’t right, you can’t do this to a person. Just because you have these powers, don’t abuse them.”

Gahunia says he doesn’t know who was behind the smear campaign, but notes that Det. Const. Soon Lum first ran a search of his name on Jan. 26, 2018, two days after Patrick Brown stepped down as Ontario Conservative leader. Gahunia says he has always been close with Brown, now Brampton’s mayor, and currently works as an advisor to him at city hall.

“Someone was out to get me, and wanted to ruin my name.”

The agency says it does not believe Lum’s claim that he thought the Peel Region Police documents he accessed from an internal computer system would be used in a legitimate investigation.

Someone was out to get me, and wanted to ruin my name

“Nevertheless, he went on to share the results of that check with an officer who, on long-term leave, had no police duties to perform and no right to the information.”

The OIPRD has directed Toronto police to hold a disciplinary hearing, but the force must first get permission from the city’s police board because it has taken more than six months to investigate the complaint. Potential penalties range from docked pay and suspension to firing.

Representatives of Toronto police and the OIPRD said they could not comment on the case. Lum did not respond to messages left for him.