A LABOUR councillor who got a student arrested days before her dissertation was due to be handed in may be sued on a claim of "malicious prosecution".

Former cabinet member Cllr Jasbir Anand told police that 22-year-old model and insurance broker Natasha Tah, of Uxbridge Road, Southall, "chased, spat, and assaulted her", after driving at her with her car.

But Ms Tah, who was investigated by police for three months, always denied the entire sequence of events and was completely cleared of any wrongdoing after the Criminal Prosecution Service threw out the case.

Now she has enlisted the help of a top celebrity law firm to pursue the councillor who plans to stand as MP for Southall and Ealing at the next General Election.

The controversy is causing consternation within the local Labour Party.

Speaking exclusively to The Ealing Times, sister paper of Local London, Ms Tah said: "It was just untrue. I did not even see her that day.

"You can't just do that to a person. I was in shock and horror when I was arrested - I did not understand what was going on."

The family has now instructed solicitors to take legal action against Cllr Anand, suing her for defamation and malicious prosecution. But firstly they are trying to settle the claim without having to go to court.

They have also written to Ealing's Borough Commander Colette Paul, who has promised to investigate their complaints.

But the Southall Green councillor vehemently denied the claim against her and said she was "not aware" of any potential legal action, despite two letters being sent to her by solicitors.

Ms Tah said: "This has been the most stressful time of my life.

"I had to hand in my dissertation in four days, then I'm suddenly woken up at eight in the morning and taken down to the police station for the whole day.

"It went on for three months and totally affected my university performance.

"I am still in complete disbelief about the whole thing."

But Cllr Anand insisted she acted correctly. She said: "I felt my life was under threat. What the police investigate and how it is carried out and what criteria they used - that is not known to me.

"There are a lot of things the CPS don't follow up. It does not mean people start prosecuting people because they go to the police."

A history of trouble between the families dates back to September 1999, when Cllr Anand began legal proceedings against Ms Tah's mother, Meena, over a shared alleyway between her shop, the Snack Bar, and Mrs Tah's house, in Scotts Road, Southall.

But Cllr Anand lost the seven-year battle despite numerous appeals, and was forced to pay costs of more than £35,000.

Labour group insiders at Ealing Council admitted they were worried about Cllr Anand's legal problems.

One source said: "We are aware of these issues and people are concerned about these things.

"For someone in public life it is not a good situation. They are very serious and the party is concerned."

Cllr Anand said: "I don't care what people believe. I believe in my rights.

"I don't think I have done anything wrong at all. I gave them the police all the information I had at the time."

The solicitors' firm representing Ms Tah - which has fought cases on behalf of Heather Mills McCartney and other high-profile A-listers in the past - said they had a "strong case".

David Sheahan, associate solicitor for Coyle White Devine, said: "In the first instance we want an apology and a retraction."