Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Kokate resigned on Wednesday, a day after a sessions court in Nashik upheld his conviction and two-year rigorous imprisonment in a decades-old cheating case linked to the misuse of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) housing quota.
The case dates back to the early 1990s, when Kokate and his brother Vijay were accused of securing a flat each in Nashik under the state government’s 10 per cent EWS quota by allegedly showing their annual income below the prescribed limit of ₹30,000. The prosecution claimed the brothers submitted documents with false income details, thereby inducing the government to allot them flats meant for economically weaker beneficiaries.
On February 20 this year, additional chief judicial magistrate Rupali C. Narwadiya convicted both brothers and sentenced them to two years of rigorous imprisonment. While they were granted bail at the time to enable them to appeal before a sessions court, the appellate court on December 16 confirmed and upheld the conviction and sentence.
A day later, Kokate moved the same magistrate’s court seeking four days’ time to surrender, citing medical grounds. The court, however, rejected the plea and issued non-bailable warrants against Kokate and his brother. His counsel, Manoj Pingle, told reporters in Nashik, “We requested the ACJM court to grant us four days for surrender on humanitarian grounds as Kokate has taken ill and has been admitted to Leelavati hospital in Mumbai.
The court asked us if there were any documents in support of the illness claim. We explained to the court that he was just hospitalized and the documents can be produced in an hour’s time. The court, however, said the two brothers are already convicted and rejected our plea.”
Following the adverse orders, Kokate approached the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, seeking urgent relief. His lawyer, Aniket Nikam, mentioned the matter before a single-judge bench of Justice R.N. Laddha, arguing that unless a stay on the conviction is granted, Kokate would lose his ministerial post and face disqualification as an elected representative. The High Court has posted the matter for hearing on Friday.
Meanwhile, Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik confirmed that the police have received non-bailable warrants against Kokate and his brother. Kokate was admitted to Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital on Wednesday, even as legal proceedings continued.
Kokate is the second minister from the NCP in the Mahayuti government to step down in recent months. Earlier this year, Dhananjay Munde resigned after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sought his exit over allegations linking his associate to the murder of a village sarpanch in Beed district.
The developments triggered political reactions within the NCP, with a section of party functionaries demanding Kokate’s resignation even before it came through. The opposition, however, maintained that resignation alone was insufficient and called for his immediate disqualification.
He has previously courted controversy, including sharp remarks against farmers demanding a loan waiver and a video that surfaced earlier this year allegedly showing him playing an online rummy game on his phone during legislative council proceedings. Though he denied the allegation, he was subsequently moved out of the agriculture ministry, with the portfolio handed over to Datta Bharane. Kokate was then assigned the sports ministry, a position he has now relinquished following the court’s verdict.
