A Nashik sessions court on Tuesday upheld the conviction and two-year prison sentence of Maharashtra minister and five-time Sinnar MLA Manikrao Kokate in a nearly three-decade-old forgery case. This legal blow forced Kokate to resign from the state cabinet on Thursday, marking a dramatic fall for the politician whose tenure has been riddled with controversies.
From Agriculture Minister to Convicted MLA: A Timeline of Troubles
Kokate, a key figure in Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has seen a rapid political decline in recent months. After the Mahayuti coalition's victory in the 2024 state elections, he was entrusted with the crucial Agriculture portfolio. However, his time as agriculture minister was short-lived and stormy.
In February 2025, he sparked outrage by comparing the government's Re 1 crop insurance scheme to alms for beggars, stating, "Even beggars do not accept one rupee in alms." The scheme later faced scrutiny with over four lakh applications rejected due to irregularities, though Kokate defended it, claiming no financial loss to the exchequer.
By April, he again angered the farming community by accusing them of deliberately defaulting on crop loans in anticipation of government waivers. His controversial remarks led to his removal from the Agriculture Ministry on August 1, after which he was given the Sports and Minority Affairs departments.
The 'Rummy Row' and a Polished Image Tarnished
Just months before his conviction was upheld, Kokate found himself in another embarrassing situation. In July, a video shared by NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar allegedly showed him playing an online card game on his phone inside the Legislative Council. Although Kokate denied playing rummy, claiming he was trying to access YouTube, the incident further damaged his credibility. Known for his carefully tailored public appearance, these series of events severely dented his polished image, making him one of the most problematic ministers in the Devendra Fadnavis-led government.
The 1995 Forgery Case: Illegal Allotment of CM Quota Flats
The case that has now led to his conviction dates back to 1995. It was filed based on a complaint by former minister and Congress leader Tukaram Dighole, whom Kokate defeated in the 1999 Assembly elections to win his first term as MLA.
The prosecution alleged that Kokate and his brother Sunil forged documents to secure two flats in the Nirman View Apartments in Nashik's Yeolekar Mala area. They falsely claimed to belong to a low-income group and declared they owned no other property, thereby illegally availing benefits under the Chief Minister's 10% discretionary housing quota.
In February 2025, a Nashik district court sentenced both brothers to two years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each. While the sessions court upheld the conviction and sentence this week, it set aside the order to hand over the flat to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). Kokate has now appealed to the Bombay High Court.
Political Crossroads and Future Implications
Following the court's decision, Kokate was swiftly divested of his Sports and Minority Affairs portfolios on Wednesday. He submitted his resignation from the state cabinet the next day. His membership in the Legislative Assembly is now in jeopardy, as the conviction could lead to his disqualification.
Kokate's political journey reflects Maharashtra's volatile political landscape. He began his career with the undivided Shiv Sena, later switched to the Congress, and finally joined Ajit Pawar's NCP during the party's split in 2023. His conviction presents fresh trouble for the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the NCP faction, forcing a reshuffle and raising questions about the scrutiny of ministerial candidates. The Bombay High Court's decision on his appeal will determine the final chapter of this long-running legal and political saga.
