It's like something out of a John Grisham page-turner.

Toronto councillor Giorgio Mammoliti claims he's the victim of a conspiracy, being lead by those opposed to the Ford administration.

Mammoliti says his office has received information showing that he & other councillors have been followed, had their phones tapped, their phone bills & other personal documents tampered with.

The councillor for York West hasn't gone to the police yet, but says he has hired a private investigator to dig up more evidence.  He says the probe is why he quit the mayor's executive committee in November.

Mammoliti wouldn't identify any other councillors who may have been targeted or the alleged conspirators.  He would only say the people behind this are councillors, citizens & lawyers & that evidence seems to point to those on the political left.

Why would someone target him?  Mammoliti believes the alleged spying is another salvo from those who didn't get their way in the last election & have resorted to embarrassing, suing & "launching attacks" against rivals to get their way.

Mammoliti says he's coming forward now to tell those who are watching him, that he's watching them too.

Mammoliti wouldn't reveal what proof he has, but says he wouldn't use his own money to look into it if he didn't think it was serious.  He says taxpayers aren't paying for the investigation.

Some leftist city councillors flatly rejected the notion of a conspiracy at City Hall.

Councillor Janet Davis says Mammoliti "always has great and wild theories" but "many times they simply are fantasies of his own making".

Councillor Shelley Carroll suggests Mammoliti is trying to elbow in on the spotlight on Rob Ford as the city waits to hear Friday if the mayor will win an appeal of a conflict of interest ruling against him & get to keep his job.  Before abruptly ducking into her office, Carroll told reporters "Today all eyes are on concern for the city, concern for the mayor and councillor Mammoliti really ought to look at his timing."