Court Sentences Manikrao Kokate in Forgery Case
A Nashik district court sentenced Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and his brother Sunil Kokate to two years in prison in a 1995 forgery case. The court also imposed a ₹50,000 fine on each.
The case involved fake documents used to secure government quota flats. Former minister TS Dighole had filed the complaint that led to the investigation.
Possible Disqualification for Kokate
If Kokate fails to get relief from the High Court, he may lose his MLA position. After the verdict, he told reporters that he had been granted bail and planned to challenge the decision in the High Court.
“I will appeal against the verdict. We will follow legal procedures and move to the High Court,” Kokate said. He also claimed that Dighole had political enmity with him.
Forgery Allegations and Police Case
The prosecution argued that Kokate and his brother obtained two Low-Income Group (LIG) flats on College Road in Nashik under the chief minister’s 10% discretionary quota.
To qualify, they allegedly falsely declared that they belonged to the LIG category and did not own a house in the city.
After Dighole’s complaint, police registered a cheating and forgery case against them at Sarkarwada police station.
NCP (SP) Demands Kokate’s Resignation
Following the verdict, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) demanded Kokate’s resignation.
He is now the second minister from Ajit Pawar’s NCP in trouble. Dhananjay Munde is already facing pressure after his aide was arrested in an extortion and murder case in Beed district.
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