CLAIMS of sexual harassment must be investigated no matter who is involved, said Nicola Sturgeon.

The First Minister issued a statement following the revelations that Alex Salmond was the subject of an investigation following complaints by two Scottish Government staff.

Ms Sturgeon said complaints of harassment against her predecessor and political mentor, Mr Salmond “could not be swept under the carpet” and had to be taken seriously by the Scottish Government.

The investigation is into two complaints of incidents alleged to have taken place at Bute House, the First Minister’s official residence in 2013.

Police Scotland confirmed it is looking into the allegations.

Mr Salmond denies the claims and has started legal proceedings against the Scottish Government arguing its procedures were “unjust” and the allegations “ridiculous”.

He later said: “I have made many mistakes in my life – political and personal – but I have not sexually harassed anyone, and I certainly have not been engaged in criminality.”

He added: “I can’t specify what the complaints are because I’m going to court, and I specifically and absolutely deny any suggestion of criminality.

“That’s my position. I’m going to court, the Scottish Government are going to have to account for themselves at court.

“Let the Court of Session do its job. If I lose then I publicly answer the complaints, if I win then we’re in a different situation altogether, but at least we’ll have established some semblance of fairness.”

Mr Salmond has launched a Judicial Review at the Court of Session and has criticised the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, Lesley Evans, for implementing the procedure.

The complaints were made in January this year and Mr Salmond was informed of the investigation in March.

On Wednesday this week Mr Salmond was informed by the Permanent Secretary of her conclusions and her intention to make a public statement regarding the facts of the investigation.

However Mr Salmond instigated legal proceedings to prevent details being made public on Thursday which delayed the statement. He later dropped the proceedings.

He is still pursing action to challenge the procedure, which he says did not allow him the opportunity to defend the claims properly.

Ms Sturgeon said that she was initially made aware of the investigation by Mr Salmond himself.

The First Minister said the Scottish Government “refutes” Mr Salmond’s complaints about the procedure and “will defend its position vigorously”.

She said: “However, this focus on process cannot deflect from the fact that complaints were made that could not be ignored or swept under the carpet.”

Ms Sturgeon said her relationship with Mr Salmond, who she has previously described as a mentor, makes it difficult to deal with but that people must feel able to make complaints.

She added: “I have been clear on many occasions that all organisations and workplaces must make it possible for people to come forward to report concerns and have confidence that they will be treated seriously.

“For that principle to mean anything it cannot be applied selectively. It must be applied without fear or favour, regardless of the identity, seniority or political allegiance of the person involved.”

Ms Evans took issue with Mr Salmond’s statement.

She said: “I note that the former First Minister has indicated his intention to challenge the actions taken by the Scottish Government. His statement contains significant inaccuracies which will be addressed in those court proceedings. The Scottish Government will defend its position vigorously.”

She added: “As the head of the Civil Service in Scotland, I have been consistently clear that there is no place for harassment of any kind in the workplace.”

A Police Scotland, spokesman, said: “We are carrying out an assessment of information which we have received and inquiries are at an early stage.”

Opposition parties said the SNP should consider Mr Salmond’s membership of the party in the wake of the investigation.

Monica Lennon Equalities spokeswoman said: “Given the serious nature of these allegations, it would be appropriate that the SNP suspends Alex Salmond’s membership of the party with immediate effect.”

Scottish Conservative, MSP Rachael Hamilton, said: “We do not yet know the substance of the allegations facing Mr Salmond. All that can be said is that, in deeply sensitive cases like this, due and fair process should be followed.

“The question of Mr Salmond’s membership of the SNP is something his party leadership should consider seriously in light of the facts.”

Meanwhile a Glasgow legal academic said it is important to make the distinction between court action into the complaints process and any police investigation into allegations of criminality.

Dr Nick McKerrell, law lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “It’s extremely rare to seek a judicial review of employment law processes in the Court of Session.

“It’s also important to consider the matter at hand. In this kind of review, the judge is not being asked to consider whether the outcome of any investigation is right or wrong.

“They are being asked to rule on whether the decision has been arrived at fairly and if it is legal.

“The outcome of a judicial review into internal process would have absolutely no bearing on how police would investigate any allegations of criminal action which are reported to them.

“That is an entirely separate matter. “