Doug Ford is standing by his hand-picked candidate in Scarborough-Guildwood, a Toronto police officer who is now under investigation over a threatening email he insists is fake.

Rival parties are demanding the Progressive Conservative leader drop Roshan Nallaratnam as a candidate in Thursday’s election.

The email warns a Tamil community member of consequences for questioning why Nallaratnam didn’t go to all-candidates’ debates in the riding now held by Liberal cabinet minister Mitzie Hunter.

“He told me that it was fabricated. I believe him. He’s a young police officer,” Ford said Monday afternoon in drizzle outside an Italian bakery in Woodbridge.

“Roshan’s a great candidate and we’re sticking with him.”

Nallaratnam put out his own statement noting every such complaint is reviewed.

“I did not send the email in question. The email is a fabrication from an account that does not belong to me. I have not been contacted by Toronto Police Services regarding this matter.”

The email in question reads: “F----- don’t do nasty campaign against me. I will teach the lesson after the election.”

Toronto police director of corporate communications Mark Pugash confirmed to the Star on Monday that a professional standards investigation has been started into the allegation against Nallaratnam.

In Sarnia, where her party is hoping to unseat the Conservative incumbent, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the allegation a police officer sent the email is “disturbing” and is “yet another example of a candidate of Mr. Ford’s whose behaviour...is questionable” during the election campaign.

“Allegations of intimidation and retribution by a member of our police services and a candidate for high office need to be taken with the utmost seriousness,” said Liberal campaign co-chair Deb Matthews.

“It is incumbent on Ford to demonstrate his standards.”

The accusation was first highlighted in a statement from the New Democrats, who are running neck-and-neck with the Conservatives in public opinion polls. It took Ford by surprise earlier in the day at an event in Scarborough Centre with Nallaratnam and other candidates, including former leadership contender Christine Elliott.

“I haven’t seen that...elections get heated,” he told reporters, before shifting his response later in the day, when he said, “This is about the NDP...getting desperate.”

Ford has previously taken aim at “radical” NDP candidates, including one who is opposed to wearing poppies on Remembrance Day.

He also defended his own comments in a tape released by the Liberals, in which he said in Dryden during an April 9 pre-election stop: “Guns don’t kill people, crazy people with guns kill people. Safe gun owners, how many times have you ever heard a responsible gun owner killing someone?”

Ford said, “I’m a strong believer in tough gun control.”

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The accusations come as Ford has been portraying his party and showcasing a handful of candidates as “ready to govern.”

with files from Ilya Bañares

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