«Mr. Ün will return to our party depending on the outcome of the judicial process,» said a written statement issued by the CHP on Sept. 28.

The decision followed a meeting between Ün and CHP parliamentary leaders held at the instruction of party leader Özgür Özel.

During the talks, Ün voluntarily offered to resign until the completion of legal proceedings and this was approved by party officials, the statement read.

The controversy began on Sept. 20 when anti-smuggling police teams stopped Ün’s vehicle and conducted a search, uncovering a significant cache of smuggled electronic cigarette devices.

The items seized included 530 empty e-cigarette boxes, 2,242 e-cigarette kits, 2,790 e-cigarette heads, 1,275 e-cigarette igniters and 130 liquid containers.

Two individuals inside the vehicle, identified only by the initials F.A. and Ç.R.Ç., voluntarily surrendered the items to authorities and were processed for customs smuggling before being released. Police later discovered that the vehicle belonged to Ün.