BEIJING, March 24 -- Hu Shihui, a former senior official of the Ministry of Science and Technology, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office following an internal graft investigation.

Hu, former deputy director of the ministry's Department of High and New Technology Development and Industrialization, was found to have taken advantage of his post, which oversaw sci-tech projects, to seek profits for others and accepted bribes, the CPC's disciplinary watchdog said Tuesday.

Hu continued to commit violations even after the 18th CPC National Congress in late 2012, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement, adding that "the nature [of the case] is vile and circumstances are grave."

The CCDI said Hu's case and illegal gains will be subject to a criminal investigation.