A Scottish regional newspaper has revealed the suspension of a top quango chairman following a legal challenge which attempted to prevent publication of the story.

Aberdeen-based the Press and Journal reported that Food Standards Agency board member Dr David Cameron has been suspended for alleged gross misconduct following a ‘serious’ allegation by a female employee.

He has been suspended from his role as a board member of the Scotland Food Standards Agency and chairman of the Scottish Food Advisory Committee.

The newspaper found out about the allegations through a leaked letter.

In an exclusive report by journalist Morag Lindsay, it was revealed that Dr Cameron said he was shocked the issue had been revealed to the paper as he had been assured by the FSA that the matter would be handled with the highest degree of confidentiality.

The agency hired London law firm Schillings and Glasgow firm Levy & McRae to try to prevent the Press and Journal reporting on the action. Schillings, which represented Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs in the recent super-injunction row, said at one point it would advise the FSA to seek an interim interdict to block publication.

Editor of the Press and Journal, Damian Bates, said: “Having received the leaked letter, it was clear this was an issue very much in the public interest and we sought more information from the FSA and others. However, we were astonished to receive legal correspondence from Schillings and Levy and McRae in effect warning us off the story. That was never going to happen.

“We sought legal advice from our own lawyers and made preparations to fight any potential interdict put in our way. As it was, it didn’t happen and – despite the FSA’s bizarre accusation of irresponsible journalism – we published another exclusive that taxpayers clearly had a right to know about.”

Dr Cameron had put his case at a special hearing and is appealing against his suspension. He told the newspaper he would go to the Cabinet Office to clear his name if the appeal failed.

A FSA spokesman told the paper that the allegation was “subject to an ongoing inquiry”.

The accusation against him came from a woman described as a ‘junior employee’ by a spokesman for the FSA and relates to an alleged incident towards the end of May.