Senior Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate has reportedly gone incommunicado as legal pressure intensifies following his conviction in the 1995 flat allotment scam. The Nashik district and sessions court recently upheld his two-year jail sentence and fine, triggering fresh legal action after Kokate failed to appear before the court. His absence has fueled speculation that his arrest could be imminent.

Advocate Ashutosh Rathod, representing the complainant, said Kokate was legally required to surrender his bail bond and remain present after the verdict. Alleging deliberate avoidance, Rathod stated that an application seeking strict action has been filed to prevent misuse of legal provisions. The court has taken cognisance of the plea, noting the seriousness of the accused’s absence.

Rathod said the legal process under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) is already underway and could conclude swiftly. Citing Section 418 of the CrPC, he stressed that once a conviction is upheld, arrest becomes mandatory. Kokate’s failure to remain present during the verdict, he added, further strengthens the case for immediate custodial action.

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The matter has also been brought before the Bombay High Court, with the complainant’s side insisting that the accused must be present when judgments are pronounced. Rathod said the case carries serious legal and political implications and urged the chief minister to take suo motu cognisance and seek Kokate’s resignation. He warned that legal consequences could soon extend to Kokate’s legislative status.

The case dates back to 1995, when former minister Tukaram Dighole accused Kokate and his brother of fraudulently securing flats under the chief minister’s discretionary quota. The prosecution alleged forged documents were used to falsely claim low-income group status and lack of property ownership. While Kokate retains the option to approach the Bombay High Court within a month, the immediate threat of arrest now looms large.

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