Xu Zongheng [file photo]

The former mayor of south China's Shenzhen City has been kicked out of the Communist Party pending further investigation into allegations of graft.

The Party's disciplinary watchdog yesterday stripped Xu Zongheng's CPC membership, sacked him from his job and confiscated his income for severe violation of disciplines and the law.

Xu, 55, was removed from office in June amid an investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China.

The commission said Xu had accepted hefty bribes and sought benefits for relatives and other people by taking advantage of his duties.

The next step is to refer Xu to judicial departments for his alleged crimes, the People's Daily website reported.

Xu became Shenzhen's mayor and deputy Party secretary in June 2005.

The Party disciplinary authority reportedly investigated Xu for a year before he was put under double designation status - a special procedure in which a Party official is ordered to explain allegations of disciplinary violations or corruption at a designated time and place.