Turkish police have raided the home of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, detaining him in connection with a corruption investigation that has been condemned by Turkey's main opposition party, CHP, as a "coup attempt."

İmamoğlu, a popular and influential figure within the CHP, is a major political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His arrest comes just days before he was expected to be announced as the party's candidate for the 2028 presidential elections.

Regarded as the strongest challenger to Erdoğan, İmamoğlu's career has been marred by several legal cases, which critics claim are politically motivated. The police operation occurred only hours after Istanbul University revoked İmamoğlu's diploma, alleging that it was obtained through fraudulent documents. This revocation is significant as presidential candidates in Turkey are required to hold a higher education degree.

A spokesperson for İmamoğlu confirmed the arrest, stating that the mayor is currently at the police station but could not provide further details due to lack of authorization to speak with the press. In a video posted on social media, İmamoğlu said, "Hundreds of police officers arrived at my door. I trust the people."

The Istanbul prosecutor’s office has outlined charges against İmamoğlu, including bribery and extortion, accusing him of leading a "criminal organization" and naming 100 suspects in the case. The investigation is believed to be linked to allegations of "auction manipulation" dating back to 2023.

Local media, including the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), have also reported that İmamoğlu’s arrest is tied to a separate investigation involving his alleged support for the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), with reports stating he is one of seven individuals detained. | BGNES