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A would-be Conservative candidate is suing the Toronto police for over $12 million, alleging its officers “thwarted the democratic process” by leaking confidential police documents for use in a smear campaign against him.

The lawsuit by Nick Gahunia raises the stakes significantly in an unusual case of political dirty tricks revolving around alleged police misconduct.

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Gahunia was disqualified as a candidate for the Progressive Conservative nomination in a Toronto-area riding just before last year’s provincial election. The party took the action after letters containing internal arrest reports mentioning the 29-year-old were mailed to various community members in Brampton, Ont.

The law-school graduate has no criminal record.

A Toronto fraud detective was charged earlier this year with disciplinary offences for obtaining the documents and passing them to another, unnamed member of the force. That person is also under investigation.