Liu was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party in May 2011 for "severe violations of discipline" and "primary leadership responsibilities for the serious corruption problem within the railway system". The Chinese state press alleged that Liu took an illegal 4% commission on railway deals, and that he had accumulated over two hundred and fifty million dollars in bribes. The CCP later accused him of "sexual misconduct", a revelation which surprised many who had followed Liu's career. The Hong Kong-based newspaper "Ming Pao" repeated this report, alleging that Liu kept eighteen mistresses.