Three SNP councillors have been suspended from the party after they publicly burned a copy of the Smith Commission report on new powers for the Scottish Parliament.
SNP national secretary Patrick Grady said he had made a complaint against Brian Lawson, Will Mylet and Mags MacLaren who appeared in a video that emerged online.
Kenny MacLaren, who filmed the 24 second clip outside Renfrewshire Council’s headquarters in Paisley, has also been suspended pending an investigation.
His wife Mags is paid to run Transport Minister Derek Mackay’s constituency office.
The video was roundly condemned by SNP leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who said it was “unacceptable behaviour”.
“We all have strong, passionate views on the future of Scotland,” she added.
“I believe Scotland should be an independent country and people are entitled to express those views robustly and passionately.
“But setting fire to something because you don’t agree with it is unacceptable behaviour and the councillors in question will be left in no doubt about my views of their conduct.
“It is essential that in that debate, conduct does not fall short of the high standard that is rightly expected by the public.”
Mr Grady said: “I have written to the convener of the party’s disciplinary committee, making a complaint against the four individuals concerned and the four will be suspended from the party until that complaint is heard.”
Mr Mackay, who is also Minister for the Islands, said: “The publicity stunt around the Smith Commission is not something I would support – it was a step too far”.
But Social Justice secretary Alex Neil described it as “a silly prank” and claimed it was “hardly a hanging offence”.
As the councillors set fire to the 28-page report above a bin, Mr Mylet said: “The Smith Commission report – this is exactly what we think about it.
“No real powers for Scotland yet again from Westminster – we’ve been lied to again.”
As he dropped it into the bin Mr Mylet said: “There you go Gordon Brown – cheers.
Councillor Lawson said: “Happy St Andrew’s Day.”
Scottish Labour’s interim leader, Anas Sarwar, said Ms Sturgeon must apologise personally to Lord Smith, who chaired the commission, and to the whole of Scotland.
“The first minister claims she wants to speak for all of Scotland, whether they voted ‘Yes’ or ‘No’,” he added.
“If she does not want to fail this test at the first hurdle, she must take immediate action to control the elements of her party who, through their disgraceful behaviour, appear determined to stir up division and grievance.”
Scottish Conservative constitutional spokeswoman Annabel Goldie said the councillors’ “juvenile posturing” was a “huge embarrassment” to the SNP which actually sat on the Smith Commission and signed up to the agreement.
“The SNP’s subsequent response to the Smith agreement raises big questions about its ability to accept the referendum result, which was a rejection of independence and an endorsement of devolution,” she added.
“Silly antics from these councillors not only diminish their party but show disrespect to a democratic judgement.”
Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said it was to Ms Sturgeon’s credit that she responded promptly to condemn the behaviour of her own councillors.
“The longer term challenge for the first minister is that these senior SNP members are not lone voices,” he added.
“So many nationalists rose to the defence of the councillors in defiance of the SNP leadership.
“The radical package of powers agreed by the all party Smith Commission should be celebrated rather than burnt in a bin.
“Yet for these nationalists everything short of independence is condemned as dangerous.
“Nicola Sturgeon still has a challenge to convince us her party stands for all of Scotland rather than just the 45% who backed her in the referendum.”