NANJING, Sept. 18 -- An official in China's Jiangsu Province hanged himself Thursday after he was removed from post following an extravagant banquet, local publicity department said.

Lou Xuequan, 50, had served as Party Secretary of Luhe District in the provincial capital Nanjing.

The police ruled out foul play in preliminary findings.

In June, Lou was removed from his post after Jiangsu discipline authorities found he had accepted an invitation to an expensive dinner during a tour of an industrial park.

The authorities made an example of Lou's dismissal to warn officials not to break the frugality rules set by the central leadership.