Police in the U.K. have launched an investigation into the abusive hatemail aimed at J.K. Rowling after the Harry Potter author made a big donation to an anti-Scottish independence campaign.

The writer, who lives in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, courted controversy last week (ends13Jun14) by handing over $1.6 million (£1 million) to the Better Together Campaign ahead of a referendum in September (14) to determine whether the nation should leave the U.K.

She expressed fears the country would be left isolated and its economy irreversibly damaged if it breaks free from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but her outspoken views upset Scottish nationalists who slammed the multi-millionaire on Twitter.com, accusing her of siding with the British elite.

The Internet backlash prompted British Prime Minister David Cameron to condemn the nasty messages, insisting there is "never any place for abusive behaviour in whatever sphere of life", and now Scottish authorities have started looking into the incident over allegations of "online criminality".

Scotland's senior prosecutor claims those responsible for posting "grossly offensive" messages aimed at Rowling will face police action.