He faces two separate investigations that also include charges of leading a crime organisation, bribery and tender rigging.

Ekrem Imamoglu had been expected to challenge Türkiye’s current President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the next presidential election in the country. Source: Getty / dia images

Imamoglu’s party was poised to name him its challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who Türkiye for more than two decades.

According to a statement by the Istanbul prosecutor’s office on the first investigation, 100 people including journalists and businessman are suspected to be involved in the criminal activities related to certain tenders awarded by the municipality.

Government officials insist the courts operate independently and reject claims that legal actions against opposition figures are politically motivated.