Supreme Court Halts Conviction of Former Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate

Supreme Court's Intervention in Kokate's Case

On Monday, the Supreme Court intervened in the conviction of former Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate, halting the proceedings related to a fraud and forgery case against him. The bench, comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, issued a notice to the Maharashtra government in response to Kokate's petition.

The bench stated, 'A notice should be issued. In the meantime, the conviction of the petitioner will be stayed, and he will not be disqualified as a legislator; however, he will not hold any position of profit.'

Kokate's conviction and the two-year sentence handed down by a magistrate in February of this year were upheld by the Nashik Sessions Court last Tuesday. The court remarked that Kokate and his brother had allocated flats beyond the established norms, thereby deceiving the state government.