Self-proclaimed qigong master Wang Lin was reportedly brought in by Jiangxi provincial police in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Wednesday as part of an investigation.

Wang, 63, a native of Jiangxi, became well known in the 1990s for practicing qigong - a system of prescribed physical exercises or movements performed in a meditative state - and allegedly having special abilities.

According to a report on Jxnews.com.cn, a website run by the Jiangxi provincial government, Wang is involved in a murder case in which Zou Yong, one of his apprentices, was allegedly killed by two suspects named Liu Feng and Zhu Litong last week.

Police detained the two suspects on Tuesday night, and both of them admitted kidnapping Zou and killing him afterward, the report said.

Police said that Wang and another man were also involved in the case. Zou, once close to Wang, turned against him later and filed four law-suits against him.

Wang had close relation-ships with many famous and powerful people, including actor Jackie Chan, Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma and several high-level officials. Photos of Wang posing with Chan and Ma spread widely on the Internet.

luowangshu@chinadaily.com.cn