Mumbai, Dec 17 (NationPress) A court in Maharashtra has issued an arrest warrant for Manikrao Kokate, the state's Sports and Agriculture Minister, following his conviction to two years of rigorous imprisonment in connection with a housing fraud case from 1995.

This arrest warrant heightens the likelihood of his prompt detention unless the Bombay High Court intervenes to suspend the conviction and sentence.

In light of the ongoing legal matters, reports indicate that Kokate's health has worsened, leading to his hospitalization at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai and causing him to miss the cabinet meeting on Tuesday at Mantralaya.

During the court session, Kokate's legal representative requested a four-day delay in the arrest due to his hospitalization. However, the sessions court dismissed the request, citing the absence of a medical certificate and highlighting that the minister should have been present during the verdict announcement.

Kokate has since approached the Bombay High Court, asking for an expedited hearing and a stay on the sentence. The High Court is set to review the case on Friday, December 19. Should no temporary relief be granted, Kokate’s legal challenges are likely to escalate.

The allegations are centered around the illegal allocation of government apartments intended for economically weaker sections that do not own any residential property.

Investigations revealed that Kokate and his brother, Vijay Kokate, allegedly submitted fabricated affidavits and falsified documents to acquire two flats in Nirman View Apartment at Canada Corner in Nashik.

Further inquiries indicated that the brothers were also using two other flats in the same building that had been allocated to different beneficiaries.

A formal complaint was lodged by Vishwanath Patil, an official from the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) department, following a probe by the district administration.

As a result, a case of cheating and forgery was filed at the Sarkarwada Police Station against four individuals, including the Kokate brothers. The court has sentenced them to two years of rigorous imprisonment, with a fine of Rs 50,000 imposed on each.

Since his cabinet induction, Kokate has been entangled in numerous controversies. Earlier, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar shared videos alleging that Kokate was engaged in mobile gaming during a Legislative Council session—an accusation the minister refuted, though it drew considerable backlash.

Kokate also faced criticism for his remarks regarding farmers, claiming, “Even a beggar does not accept one rupee, yet we provide crop insurance for just one rupee, and some individuals attempt to exploit it.”

During a municipal election campaign, he further embarrassed the ruling coalition by labeling the BJP as a ‘corrupt party’ that survives by undermining other parties while neglecting its loyal members.

Manikrao Kokate is a five-time MLA representing the Sinnar constituency in Nashik district, known for his shifting political alliances over time.

--ISNS

sj/skp