Campania's centre-left governor Vincenzo De Luca and judge Anna Scognamiglio are among seven people being investigated for corruption, Rome prosecutors announced on Wednesday.
De Luca on Wednesday denied allegations that he okayed the promotion of Scognamiglio's husband to a top management position with Campania's regional health authority in exchange for her upholding De Luca's appeal against a suspension linked to a previous conviction.
"I am the injured party in this affair and I will firmly opposed anyone who tries to cast doubt on the correctness and transparency of my conduct," De Luca said, denying any wrongdoing.
Also under investigation in the probe are Carmelo Mastursi, the ex-head of De Luca's regional secretariat who resigned from his post on Monday, Scognamiglio's husband Guglielmo Manna, and two Naples lawyers, .
As part of the probe, premises linked to the six other suspects in the probe than De Luca were searched by police on 19 October.
On 22 July, Scognamiglio signed an order upholding another judge's ruling earlier that month which struck down De Luca's suspension from office on 26 June by a prime ministerial decree under an anti-graft law.
De Luca was elected Campania governor in the first round of voting on 31 May with 41.15 percent of ballots cast.
A former mayor of the southern city of Salerno, who is credited with regenerating the city, he is appealing an abuse of office conviction by a lower court in January for his handling of a local incinerator project while mayor.
Italy's supreme court is currently considering De Luca's case.
