According to reports from the pro-government newspaper Sabah, 19 people were arrested in the operation, including Çayırgan. The others face charges related to drug trafficking.

News of İmamoğlu’s alleged affair has been widely reported by both opposition and pro-government media in Turkey over the last 24 hours. So far, there has been no official comment or denial from İmamoğlu or his associates. Turkish media have also revisited a statement Çayırgan made about two years ago when asked who the most famous contact in her phone was; she said İmamoğlu, without giving further details.

The influencer, Rabia Karaca, who was also arrested by Turkish authorities, testified that Çayırgan was “İmamoğlu’s girlfriend.” According to her statement, the mayor took care of Çayırgan and ensured her payments, mentioning other individuals as well.

Analysts note that Turkish authorities are painting a picture around İmamoğlu involving accusations of a fake degree, financial misconduct, and a scandalous personal life. However, these remain unproven claims at this time.