Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 17: A Maharashtra court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Sports and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate following his conviction and two-year rigorous imprisonment in a housing fraud case dating back to 1995. The warrant raises the likelihood of his immediate arrest unless the Bombay High Court grants a stay on the sentence.
Kokate’s health reportedly worsened amid the legal proceedings, leading to his admission at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai. He missed the weekly cabinet meeting at Mantralaya on Tuesday due to his hospitalization. His legal team requested a four-day stay on the arrest, citing medical reasons, but the sessions court rejected the plea, noting that no medical certificate had been provided and that the minister should have been present during the verdict.
Kokate has now approached the Bombay High Court, seeking urgent relief and a stay on his sentence. The High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on December 19. Without interim relief, the minister faces intensified legal consequences.
The case involves the illegal allotment of government flats under the Chief Minister’s quota, reserved for economically weaker sections. Investigations revealed that Kokate and his brother, Vijay Kokate, allegedly submitted forged documents and false affidavits to secure two flats in Nirman View Apartment at Canada Corner, Nashik. Authorities also found the brothers occupying two additional flats allotted to other beneficiaries.
The complaint was initially lodged by Vishwanath Patil, a former Urban Land Ceiling department official, and a case of cheating and forgery was registered at Sarkarwada Police Station. The court has now sentenced the Kokate brothers and two others to two years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each.
Kokate, a five-time MLA from Sinnar constituency in Nashik, has frequently attracted controversy. He faced criticism after videos surfaced allegedly showing him playing games during a Legislative Council session, made controversial remarks about farmers and crop insurance, and created tension in the ruling alliance by publicly calling coalition partner BJP “corrupt.”
Known for shifting political allegiances over the years, Kokate’s conviction adds a significant chapter to his controversial political career.