The former mayor of a city in Central China, sacked only 49 days after taking up the post for bribery, has been transferred to judicial authorities.

Lu Qinghai, 53, became mayor of Luohe city in Henan province in July 2011, and was suspended from duty for investigation 49 days later by the provincial Party's disciplinary authorities for allegedly accepting 12 million yuan ($2.6 million) in bribes, according to the Party’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Lu was accused of taking advantage of his post to accept bribes in return for benefits in contracting projects and promotion, among others.

He was also stripped of Party membership and disqualified from being a deputy to the National People's Congress last year.

More than 160,000 members were punished by the Party's disciplinary authorities last year, a news conference was told on Wednesday.