Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate’s conviction in cheating case stayed, will not face disqualification from Assembly
A magistrate court had sentenced Manikrao Kokate and his brother to two years in jail in a housing fraud case from 1995.
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate (Express Photo By Ganesh Shirsekar) In a relief for Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, a sessions court in Nashik has temporarily stayed his conviction in a housing fraud case. Kokate and his brother were found guilty of charges such as cheating and forgery by a magistrate court in Nashik on February 20, for which they were sentenced to two years in jail. As a result of the stay, the detailed order of which is yet to be made available, Kokate will not be disqualified from the Legislative Assembly.
As per the Representation of People Act, a legislature member is disqualified if convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years. In such cases, the only relief is if the conviction is stayed, as it would mean none of the consequences of the conviction can remain in effect, including disqualification.
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