Rui Chenggang_Chinese News Anchor
China Central Television (CCTV) host Rui Chenggang speaks during a conference in Dalian, Liaoning province on Sept. 12, 2013. Rui, the popular host of financial news programs on CCTV, was taken away from his studio on July 11, 2014, ruling Communist Party mouthpiece the People's Daily said on its Twitter account on the night of July 12, 2014. Picture taken on Sept. 12, 2013. Reuters

A leading Chinese news anchor has been caught up in a corruption investigation. Rui Chenggang was arrested Friday just before his "Economic News" program was to air.

He is among several figures at China Central Television (CCTV) arrested in recent months. Caixin Online reported more than 1 million yuan ($161,184) was found in the office of Li Yong, deputy financial news director, who was arrested along with Rui. Last month CCTV director Guo Zhenxi and producer Tian Liwu were arrested on corruption charges.

Rui allegedly was implicated in the Guo investigation, the South China Morning Post said. Rui has denied the allegations.

Rui has sparked controversy since joining CCTV in 2003, once characterizing the opening of a Starbucks in the Forbidden City as an "erosion of Chinese culture," the Morning Post said.

Rui is known for designer suits and fast cars, CNN reported.

Rui's arrest followed the detention of a retired top general for allegedly accepting bribes and the vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Anjui Provincial Committee for "grave violations of discipline and law," the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party said in a statement Saturday. The vice chairman was among 19 provincial officials investigated this year, ecns.cn reported.

A number of those investigated are linked to former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, including Rui's mentor Guo, CNN said.

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