?Lyu Xiwen [File photo]

Lyu Xiwen, former deputy Party chief in Beijing, has been expelled from the Party and removed from her post for serious disciplinary violations that included accepting bribes and making groundless criticisms of the party, the Communist Party of China's watchdog said on Tuesday.

Lyu also failed to follow the central authority's major policies, formed cliques and lived a luxurious lifestyle, the Party's Discipline Inspection Commission said.

She was accused of improperly appointing Party officers, interfering in personnel matters, using her job to gain benefits for her relatives' business projects, and accepting bribes to benefit other enterprises.

Lyu also was accused of living a luxurious lifestyle as she was frequently seen attending private clubs and entertainment venues, the commission said.

In November, Lyu was placed under investigation for suspected "serious disciplinary violations," becoming the first high-ranking official in the capital under such a probe since the 18th Party Congress in 2012, when the new leadership took office.