A sessions court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant for Sports and Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate after he was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment in a housing fraud case dating back to 1995.
The warrant indicates that Kokate could be taken into custody unless the Bombay High Court intervenes to stay the conviction. The High Court is scheduled to hear his appeal on December 19.
During proceedings, Kokate’s lawyer requested a four-day delay in arrest, citing the minister’s hospitalization at Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, due to declining health. He also missed the weekly cabinet meeting at Mantralaya. However, the sessions court dismissed the request, noting the absence of a medical certificate and that Kokate should have been present when the verdict was delivered.
The case involves the unlawful allocation of government flats under the Chief Minister’s quota, which is reserved for economically disadvantaged individuals without residential property. Investigations revealed that Kokate and his brother, Vijay Kokate, allegedly submitted fraudulent affidavits and forged documents to obtain two flats in Nirman View Apartments at Canada Corner, Nashik. They were also found occupying two additional flats allocated to other beneficiaries.
The case was initiated following a complaint by Vishwanath Patil, a former official in the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) department. A cheating and forgery case was registered at Sarkarwada Police Station against the Kokate brothers and two others.
The court found all accused guilty, sentencing them to two years of rigorous imprisonment and imposing a fine of Rs. 50,000 each.
Kokate’s legal troubles have reignited public scrutiny. After his cabinet induction, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar released videos claiming Kokate was playing mobile games during a Legislative Council session, which the minister denied. He also faced criticism for controversial remarks on farmers, stating, “even a beggar does not accept one rupee,” in reference to crop insurance schemes.
