Maharashtra Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Manikrao Kokate has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Nashik district and sessions court in a 1995 case involving the use of fraudulent documents to obtain government flats under a special housing scheme. In addition to the jail term, he has been fined Rs 50,000. His brother, Sunil Kokate, was also convicted in the same case.The verdict was delivered by Additional Chief Justice Rupali Nadwadia. Following the ruling, both Manikrao and Sunil Kokate secured bail by paying a fine of Rs 1 lakh. However, Manikrao Kokate must now appeal to the High Court to obtain a stay on his conviction. Failure to do so could result in him losing his position as an MLA.
 

The case dates back to 1995 when former minister, the late T S Dighole, filed a complaint against Manikrao Kokate and his brother for allegedly submitting fake documents to obtain a government-allotted flat. The prosecution stated that Kokate and his co-accused attempted to acquire a flat under the ‘Ten Percent’ scheme by falsely claiming eligibility. The scheme was designed to benefit individuals in the Low-Income Group (LIG) who did not own property in the city.To meet the eligibility criteria, Kokate and his brother allegedly submitted fraudulent documents asserting they belonged to the LIG category and had no residential property in the area. Based on these claims, they were allotted flats under the government quota. However, upon further investigation, additional collector Vishwanath Patil found inconsistencies and filed a case against them in 1995. Since then, the case had been pending in court, with the Kokate brothers out on bail.
 

Speaking to the media after the sentencing, Manikrao Kokate said, "The court has passed the verdict after a long trial. Since this case dates back to 1995, it has taken years to reach this stage. I will appeal to the higher court as per the legal process. Since the matter is sub judice, I will not comment further."Assistant Public Prosecutor Poonam Ghotke confirmed that the conviction was based on the testimonies of 10 witnesses and substantial evidence. The court has also directed the Kokate brothers to return the flats they acquired through fraudulent means.Legal experts suggest that if the High Court does not stay his conviction, Kokate may have to step down as an MLA. Under Indian law, a sitting legislator convicted for more than two years can face disqualification. This case has stirred political discussions in Maharashtra, with opposition parties demanding stricter action against leaders involved in corruption cases.As the legal battle moves to the higher court, Kokate’s political future remains uncertain. His appeal and subsequent ruling in the High Court will determine whether he continues as an MLA or faces disqualification. The case highlights the long-standing issue of corruption in government housing schemes and raises concerns about accountability in political leadership.