Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was acquitted in the criminal case concerning alleged bid-rigging during his tenure as Beylikdüzü mayor. The ruling was delivered on 24 October 2025 by the Büyükçekmece 10th Criminal Court of First Instance. Turkish outlets including Euronews, Medyascope, Cumhuriyet and bianet reported the decision.
Background of the Case
The case centered on an allegation of “ihaleye fesat karıştırma” (tender rigging) tied to a 2015 municipal tender in Beylikdüzü, where İmamoğlu served as district mayor before becoming Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor. The proceedings began after a 2022 complaint by the Interior Ministry and carried a requested sentence of up to seven years in prison, according to court reporting.
Court Decision and Details
At Friday’s hearing in Büyükçekmece, the panel acquitted İmamoğlu, concluding that the statutory elements of the alleged offense were not established. Reporting from the hearing noted that the court rejected additional investigation requests and proceeded to issue a verdict after the defense’s final statements.
Political and Public Reactions
Following the ruling, İmamoğlu’s team welcomed the decision. Statements shared via campaign channels framed the outcome as a legal confirmation of their position, while local media highlighted the acquittal’s timing amid broader legal scrutiny of the opposition figure.
What Comes Next
The acquittal applies only to the Beylikdüzü tender case. It does not automatically change İmamoğlu’s current custodial status or other legal processes. Outlets tracking his broader situation emphasized that he remains in pre-trial detention in connection with separate investigations and charges unrelated to the tender case; no court order for release was announced alongside the acquittal.
As of 24 October 2025, therefore, the answer to the public question—“Did Ekrem İmamoğlu get acquitted?”—is: Yes, he was acquitted in the Beylikdüzü tender case, per the court ruling and multiple Turkish news reports. However, this acquittal does not, by itself, secure his release, because other legal matters are ongoing.
