Justice Served: Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate’s Portfolios Axed After Court Upholds Housing Scam Conviction!
A Nashik court’s recent upholding of the conviction of Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate has prompted the state’s Governor, Acharya Devvrat, to accept Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ recommendation to relieve him of all ministerial portfolios. In a letter dated December 17, 2025, the Governor expressed his approval of transferring Kokate’s responsibilities-covering Sports and Youth Welfare, Minorities Development, and Aukaf-to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Kokate is currently challenging his conviction and a two-year jail sentence related to a nearly 30-year-old cheating and forgery case tied to a housing scheme for economically weaker sections (EWS). His appeal was filed in the Bombay High Court shortly after the Nashik court issued an arrest warrant against him due to his absence in court. He is reportedly hospitalized for health issues, as confirmed by his legal counsel.
On December 16, Additional Sessions Judge P.M. Badar affirmed Kokate’s conviction under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including cheating and forgery, while acquitting him of others. The court mandated the execution of his jail term following a lengthy trial that has spanned decades. Kokate, along with his brother Vijay, was found guilty of misrepresenting their income to obtain flats allotted under the EWS quota in Nashik. Each was sentenced to two years in prison and fined ₹10,000.
The prosecution claims that Kokate submitted a false income affidavit in 1989, declaring his annual income as ₹30,000 to acquire a flat under a discretionary quota. When the complaint was initially filed in 1995 by former minister T.S. Dighole’s daughter, it alleged that the Kokate brothers provided misleading financial documents to secure housing meant for those earning less than the prescribed income limit.
During the trial, it was revealed that Kokate’s actual income exceeded the limit, invalidating his claim. “Before Flat No. 4 was allotted to him, he could have informed the government of his real income but chose to conceal it,” Judge Badar remarked. The court also noted that Vijay Kokate obtained a flat despite an income exceeding the threshold, further supporting the case against them.
Kokate’s legal team argues that the judges made errors by assessing his income in 1994 rather than in 1989, when the eligibility was determined. They contend that the prosecution failed to prove his income exceeded the limit at that earlier date, claiming that the charges lack merit since criminal intent must be established from the outset.
The conviction has drawn significant backlash, with opposition parties demanding Kokate’s immediate disqualification and removal from office. Congress leaders Harshwardhan Sapkal and Varsha Gaikwad criticized the Mahayuti government for allegedly shielding Kokate. As they pointed out, swift action was taken against opposition leaders with similar legal issues, underscoring perceived discrepancies in how the ruling party addresses such matters.
Adding to the controversy, Kokate has been out of contact since the court’s ruling, missing a State Cabinet meeting while seeking time for his potential surrender. The implications of his conviction are substantial; under the Representation of the People Act, he could face disqualification due to his sentencing.
As discussions continue among state leaders, the spotlight remains on Kokate’s future and the broader political consequences for the Maharashtra government, now engulfed in another crisis linked to its ministers’ legal troubles.
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/maharashtra-minister-manikrao-portfolios-removed-after-court-upholds-his-conviction-in-housing-scam-case/article70408068.ece
Category : Maharashtra
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Publish Date: 2025-12-17 22:15:00
