---
title: "Ward 20 incumbent Parthi Kandavel is under OPP investigation for alleged bribe solicitation"
description: "The OPP's anti-rackets branch confirmed it is investigating incumbent city councillor Parthi Kandavel over alleged dealings with developers. No charges have been filed. Kandavel says there was no wrongdoing."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/parthi-kandavel-opp-investigation-october-8"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:10:30.057Z"
---

The OPP is investigating Ward 20 Scarborough Southwest incumbent [Parthi Kandavel](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/parthi-kandavel), the Ontario Provincial Police confirmed to The Local. The anti-rackets branch, which handles potential financial crimes including fraud and corruption, is leading the probe. Kandavel said there was no wrongdoing and that his lawyers told him not to discuss it further.

The Toronto Star first reported the investigation. The Star said sources told it the probe focuses on Kandavel's dealings with developers and that Kandavel was accused of soliciting bribes. The OPP said the investigation is ongoing and declined to say more. No charges have been filed.

Kandavel is running for re-election on October 26. He has not withdrawn from the race.

**The challenger stays on local issues**

[Kevin Rupasinghe](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/kevin-rupasinghe), an engineer and community advocate, is running against Kandavel. He lost to Kandavel by fewer than five percentage points in the 2023 by-election for the same ward.

Rupasinghe told The Local he has largely kept the investigation out of his campaign. He said he did not see a need to raise it, and that his campaign wants to stay focused on a positive vision. His campaign priorities are housing density, transit improvements, and local amenities.

The Local reported that voters in Scarborough Southwest are also focused on issues other than the investigation. Residents raised housing affordability, transit, and the character of their neighbourhood as their main concerns.

**What the investigation means for voters**

Being under investigation means police are gathering evidence. A charge and a court decision are separate steps that have not happened here.

The investigation is live as of October 8. Anyone voting in Ward 20 before or on October 26 can take this into account. Advance voting in Toronto runs from October 6 to October 11 at City-run voting locations. See the full candidate list for Ward 20 at /on/toronto-2026/races/councillor/ward-20-scarborough-southwest.

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