In a significant development, a sessions court in Nashik has suspended the two-year prison sentence handed to Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and his brother Sunil Kokate, providing a major relief to the embattled Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader. The decision comes just days after a magistrate court convicted the Kokate brothers on February 20, 2025, in a 30-year-old cheating and forgery case, sentencing them to two years in jail and imposing a fine of ₹50,000 each.
The case, which dates back to 1995, stems from allegations that Manikrao Kokate and his brother submitted fabricated documents to secure two flats under the Chief Minister’s discretionary quota, reserved for low-income groups, in Nashik’s Yeolakar Mala area. The complaint was originally filed by Tukaram Dighole, a former Shiv Sena MLA and minister, who accused the brothers of forgery and cheating. Following a prolonged legal battle spanning nearly three decades, the Nashik district court delivered its guilty verdict last week, raising concerns about Kokate’s political future.
The conviction had put Kokate at immediate risk of disqualification as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which mandates that a public representative sentenced to two or more years in prison cannot continue in office. However, on Monday, February 24, 2025, the sessions court granted the Kokate brothers’ plea to suspend the sentence pending their appeal against the conviction. The court also allowed them bail upon furnishing personal and surety bonds of ₹1 lakh each.
While the suspension of the sentence prevents Kokate’s immediate imprisonment, the presumption of guilt remains until the appeal is resolved. Kokate has filed a separate appeal seeking a stay on the conviction itself, a move that, if granted, would fully shield him from disqualification and other legal consequences. Legal experts note that a stay on the conviction would offer Kokate more comprehensive protection, as opposed to the current suspension, which only delays the enforcement of the sentence.
The ruling has brought temporary respite to Kokate and the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, which has faced mounting pressure amid this controversy. The party had already been grappling with public criticism following the sentencing, with opposition leaders and activists, including Anna Hazare, calling for Kokate’s resignation from the state cabinet. The suspension of the sentence now buys time for Kokate and his legal team to challenge the conviction, though the outcome of the appeal remains uncertain.
Kokate, a five-time MLA from Sinnar and a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics, was inducted into the state cabinet in December 2024 as part of the Mahayuti government’s cabinet expansion. His political journey, which includes stints as chairman of the Nashik District Council and multiple terms as a legislator, has been overshadowed by this decades-old case, casting a shadow over his tenure as Agriculture Minister.
As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes are on the Nashik sessions court’s impending decision on the stay of conviction, which could determine whether Kokate retains his position or faces further political fallout. For now, the suspension of his sentence offers a reprieve, allowing him to continue his duties while the appeal process plays out.