**Maharashtra Sports Minister Sentenced to Two Years for Fraud**
A day after the Nashik District and Sessions Court sentenced Manikrao Kokate, Maharashtra’s Sports Minister and NCP leader, to two years in prison for fraudulently acquiring flats under the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme, the state government transferred all his portfolios, including Minority Development and Auqaf, to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Despite his conviction, Kokate remains a minister without a portfolio, as neither the state government nor the Governor has officially removed him from his position.
Judge PM Badar directed Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Rupali Narwadiya to implement the sentence promptly, allowing the court to issue summons for Kokate’s arrest following the affirmation of a previous verdict. The case, which originated at Nashik’s Sarkarwada Police Station in 1997, involved four individuals, including Kokate and his brother.
Both Kokate and his brother were found guilty of unlawfully obtaining four flats at Canada Corner, Nashik, by exploiting the 10 percent reserved quota in the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme. These flats, allocated at discounted rates in 1995, were acquired through forgery and deceit. The court mandated immediate enforcement of the sentence and cautioned that failure to pay the imposed fine would lead to an additional month of imprisonment.
The legal proceedings were initiated following a petition by former minister Tukaram Dighole, which triggered a lengthy investigation and trial. Nearly three decades after the case was first registered, the Sessions Court’s ruling reinforces the accountability of public officials who misuse welfare schemes.
Manikrao Kokate, 67, currently serves as the MLA from Sinnar, having held multiple terms since 1999, with a recent return to the assembly in 2024 as a candidate from Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction.
**FAQ**
**What was Manikrao Kokate convicted for?**
Manikrao Kokate was convicted for fraudulently acquiring flats under the Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme by misusing reserved quotas, resulting in a two-year prison sentence.