A Romanian anti-corruption official has resigned after being detained on suspicion of inflating property prices, which allegedly cost the state £54million

Horia Georgescu stepped down as head of the National Integrity Agency, which checks the assets of public officials and rules on conflict of interest and compatibility issues.

Prosecutors said that seven other people have also been detained in the past two days in his case.

Resigned: Horia Georgescu stepped down as head of Romania's National Integrity Agency after being detained on suspicion of inflating property prices

Mr Georgescu was detained and questioned on Monday on suspicion that in 2008 and 2009, he overvalued property being restituted to former owners who lost it when the communists nationalized real estate.

Prosecutors said that the allegations center on the value of three large plots of land in the country's capital of Bucharest.

Mr Georgescu, who held a different position at the time of the allegations, has denied any wrongdoing.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta declined to comment on the case, but said Romania's anti-corruption drive remains 'a very important process for a democratic country.'

He said: 'A lot of illegal things happened in the restitution process.'

Prosecutors have launched a series of high-level corruption investigations in recent months.

Vital: Prime Minister Victor Ponta declined to comment on the case, but said Romania's anti-corruption drive remains 'a very important process for a democratic country'

On Sunday, Finance Minister Darius Valcov resigned after prosecutors charged him with accepting £1.5million in bribes when he was a mayor. He denies wrongdoing.

Ponta emphasised that the allegations refer to a period of time approximately seven years ago, adding 'he was one of the best members of the Cabinet, but this is politics.'