In a significant ruling, a sessions court in Nashik district has upheld the two-year jail term for Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate and his brother in a cheating and forgery case dating back to 1995. The case revolves around the fraudulent acquisition of flats under a government quota, raising questions about the misuse of power and the integrity of state resources.
The legal battle began when a magistrate's court initially convicted Manikrao Kokate, a five-time MLA from Sinnar in Nashik, and his brother in February. The court found them guilty of submitting fabricated documents to secure flats under the Chief Minister's discretionary quota, meant for the Low Income Group (LIG). They were sentenced to two years' imprisonment and fined ₹50,000 each. Following the conviction, the Kokate brothers immediately obtained bail.
The Kokate brothers then filed an appeal, and a sessions court temporarily suspended their sentence on March 5, 2025. However, in a recent decision, Judge PM Badar of the Nashik District and Sessions Court reversed the stay, affirming the original jail term. The judge stated that the flats were obtained contrary to the established norms, effectively deceiving the state government.
The case was initially filed by former minister Tukaram Dighole, who alleged that the Kokate brothers presented false claims of belonging to the LIG category and not owning a house in the city to become eligible for the quota. The prosecution argued that the brothers provided fake documents to prove their eligibility for the 'Ten Percent' scheme quota.
Manikrao Kokate, currently aligned with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, faces potential disqualification as an MLA if the conviction is not stayed by a higher court. After the recent court ruling, Manikrao Kokate told the media that he would appeal to a higher court. He acknowledged the lengthy duration of the trial and refrained from commenting further, as the matter remains sub judice. According to Assistant public prosecutor Poonam Ghotke, the conviction was based on the testimony of 10 witnesses. The court has also ordered the brothers to return the flats.
