The deputy director of the Quzhou City Public Security Bureau in Zhejiang province is being investigated by disciplinary authorities, a police officer from the bureau confirmed on Wednesday.

Media reports said that Cai Jianming was taken away for questioning over his alleged involvement in illegal private lending activities relating to billions of yuan when he was director of the public security bureau in Jiangshan, the county under Quzhou, between 2006 and 2012.

"We only can confirm that Cai has been taken away for investigation but there is no formal statement about what kind of case he is said to have been involved in," said Zhang Fei, an officer from the local police.

Private lending activities were very popular in Jiangshan especially post-2006. As of the end of June, 114 illegal lenders were shut down by the local authority.