Yunnan vice-governor and Mayor of Tea, Shen Peiping, subject of graft investigation

Another senior government official has been placed under investigation, the Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog announced yesterday as top legislative meetings continued in Beijing.

Shen Peiping, vice-governor of Yunnan province, has been placed under investigation for "serious violations of party discipline and the law" - a term that usually refers to graft - the Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

Shen joins 31 other senior officials who are being investigated or have been formally charged in an anti-corruption campaign launched by President Xi Jinping in late 2012.

The 52-year-old Shen is a Yunnan native. After teaching at middle school after graduation, Shen worked in the province for decades before becoming mayor of Puer - a city famous for its fermented tea - from 2007-09. Dubbed the "Mayor of Tea", Shen promoted the local tea to the whole country, a product that has contributed greatly the city's economic growth.

However, some Puer residents say Shen was ruthless in his handling of local petitioners and had suspiciously close ties with some local businessmen.

"We are going to have a celebration tonight after hearing about Shen's detention," said Li Chunsheng, who was ordered to close his bus company after another businessman, Gong Xinqiang, complained to authorities of unfair competition. Last year, Li unsuccessfully sued Gong over the matter. Li said that Gong had Shen's support.