A reporter, who recently posted claims about alleged misconduct by a senior official, was confirmed to have been taken by police from his home in Chongqing on Friday, but as yet there has been no official explanation.

According to Qing Ling, the wife of Liu Hu, "nearly 10" police went to their home at noon on Friday and took Liu away after he signed a paper. Police also took Liu's computers and laptops as well as several bank cards which had been canceled by the bank.

"Police didn't say why Liu was taken away and I have not yet been able to contact him," Qing told the Global Times, adding that Liu was in handcuffs when he was taken away.

Liu, who is now working at the Guangzhou-based newspaper New Express, on July 29 posted a report on his personal Weibo account relating to Ma Zhengqi, a deputy director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, which said that Ma may have been involved in serious misconduct when he worked in Chongqing. No formal investigation has been announced by authorities.

A police officer from the police station in charge of Liu's community confirmed with the Global Times that one of the police from their station went to Liu's home on Friday to assist police from Beijing.

An editor from the New Express told the Global Times that the newspaper was still trying to contact Beijing police for details.

Enquiries with the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau Friday received no answer.

Authorities have recently been cracking down on online rumors, making a number of arrests, including a man with the screen name Qin Huohuo, who allegedly profited from online rumors.

Global Times