More than 40 officials working at grassroots level in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, were investigated on corruption charges last year.

The city's anti-corruption watchdog said on Wednesday that 41 officials in the city's villages were caught taking bribes and violating laws. They allegedly embezzled government fund in the name of improving villagers’ welfare, sold land without legal procedure and bought votes in elections.

Ge Qibao, Party chief of Beichen village, hit the national headlines after an online video emerged that reportedly showed him fighting local police and claiming that he represented the government and could arrest them.

The incident happened when the police officials tried to stop illegal dumping of waste by a construction site on Nov 4 last year. Ge allegedly asked the officials not to stop the illegal dumping, but they ignored him. He then reportedly asked five members of his staff to beat the police.

The anti-graft authority said it investigated the corruption cases raised by local people with an iron hand.

He Yangzheng, Party chief in Yangtou village, was brought down for reportedly soliciting nearly 13 million yuan ($2 million), and Shao Suanliang, Party chief in Yangjia village, was investigated for allegedly taking 200,000 yuan in bribe.