Article content continued

“There are no investigations or complaints against him,” said Const. David Hopkinson, a spokesman for the force.

In the wake of his firing as host of the popular radio show Q, Mr. Ghomeshi posted an emotional statement online saying that an ex-girlfriend out for revenge had been trying to accuse him of sexually abusive behaviour. He admitted that he engaged in “rough sex” that might seem offensive to some, but that it was always safe and consensual.

The Toronto Star then published a story based on interviews with three women. Two said they had dated Mr. Ghomeshi and were subjected to unwanted punching, slapping and choking during sex. Another woman, quoted anonymously like the others, said she had worked at CBC and that he had crudely propositioned her and touched her buttocks.

According to the Star, none of the four women the paper interviewed have ever filed a police complaint against Mr. Ghomeshi, and none of them agreed to go on the record. The women said they are afraid that if they come forward, they will be sued or become victims of vicious online attacks, the paper reported.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or

It would likely require a complaint from one of his accusers to trigger a probe by Toronto police, said Const. Hopkinson, though detectives could always start an investigation based on media reports.

“They can do that. But that depends on the circumstances. In these [circumstances], I don’t think they would do that,” said Const. Hopkinson.

The head of the union that represents Mr. Ghomeshi and others at the CBC said Monday that no employee had formally asked the organization to investigate the former host’s behaviour.