Novelist and scriptwriter Zhou Meisen, 61, has been keeping a close watch in the past few years on news of China's intensified anti-graft drive.

A 56-episode TV series adapted from his latest novel, In the Name of the People, began airing Tuesday on the satellite channel of Hunan TV and video-streaming sites. It is to continue nightly, at least until May 1.

The drama, with an ensemble cast led by veteran actors Lu Yi and Zhang Fengyi, is built around a complex corruption case brought to light by conflicts at a factory in a fictional province.