Erdal Besikcioglu Arrested: Turkish Actor-Turned-Mayor Held in Corruption Probe

Turkey – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Erdal Besikcioglu arrested news has stunned Turkey this week. The well-known actor, who later became a local mayor, was taken into custody as part of a wide anti-corruption operation near the capital, Ankara.

Besikcioglu, 56, is famous for playing a tough detective in the hit show “Behzat C.” Fans loved his character for standing up against a broken system. Ironically, he now faces serious legal trouble himself.

He won the mayor’s seat in Etimesgut back in 2024. This district sits close to Ankara and is home to roughly 600,000 residents. His win was seen as a strong moment for the opposition.

Prosecutors say the raids covered nine provinces around Ankara. In total, 55 people were detained during the sweep. This group includes Besikcioglu, 42 city hall workers, and 13 business leaders.

Officials claim these individuals ran a criminal network. The accusations include embezzlement, corruption, and misuse of public tenders. Investigators are specifically looking into how contracts were awarded by Etimesgut’s local government.

This case is not happening in isolation. It closely mirrors the situation of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. He was arrested back in March 2025 and remains behind bars today.

Imamoglu was once viewed as President Erdogan’s biggest political threat. His party, the CHP, insists these arrests are not about justice. They believe it’s a coordinated push to weaken opposition voices nationwide.

Besikcioglu belongs to the same party, the Republican People’s Party. He becomes just the latest CHP figure swept up in ongoing legal action across the country.

Just one day earlier, another CHP mayor faced a similar fate. Sinem Dedetas, who leads Uskudar near Istanbul, was arrested Wednesday. Her case involves alleged issues with building permit approvals.

The numbers paint a bigger picture of this crackdown. At least 28 CHP mayors are currently sitting in detention. Hundreds more party officials have also been swept into these ongoing investigations.

Meanwhile, internal party turmoil adds another layer to the story. Ozgur Ozel receErdal Besikcioglu, known for his role in “Behzat C,” now faces corruption charges as Etimesgut’s mayor.ntly lost his position as CHP leader through a court ruling. He chose to leave the party altogether just last week.

Ozel isn’t stepping back from politics, though. He’s launching a brand-new political party instead. Ninety-one lawmakers are reportedly joining him to challenge Erdogan’s ruling AKP party directly.

For now, Besikcioglu remains in custody as the investigation continues. His transformation from beloved television detective to real-life legal defendant has captured public attention. Many are watching closely to see what happens next.

The opposition continues to call these actions politically motivated. Turkish authorities, meanwhile, maintain their focus is strictly on corruption and financial wrongdoing. The coming weeks should reveal how this legal battle unfolds further.