5 months ago
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The Bombay High Court connected Friday (December 19, 2025) granted bail to NCP person and erstwhile Maharashtra curate Manikrao Kokate successful a cheating and forgery lawsuit linked to a authorities lodging scheme, and suspended his two-year jailhouse term.
The court, however, refused to enactment the condemnation noting that prima facie grounds pointed to Kokate's involvement. The NCP person was accused of securing a level successful a authorities strategy for the economically weaker conception (EWS) by submitting mendacious affidavits astir his income.
"Permitting a idiosyncratic convicted of transgression offence (to clasp a furniture position) solely connected relationship of suspended condemnation would origin sedate and irreparable prejudice to nationalist service," said the court.
In his order, Justice R.N. Laddha noted that Kokate was connected bail passim the proceedings earlier the magistrate's tribunal and besides during the pendency of the entreaty earlier the session's court.
As the jailhouse word was lone 2 years, it was inclined to assistance bail, the precocious tribunal said.
"The exertion for suspension of condemnation is allowed....The applicant has to deposit a sum of Rs 1 lakh arsenic surety," the HC said arsenic it admitted for proceeding Kokate's revision petition against the sessions court's bid which upheld his conviction.
Kokate's counsel Ravi Kadam argued that helium was admitted to Lilavati infirmary successful Bandra wherever helium underwent an angiography, and was scheduled to person an SOS angioplasty connected Friday afternoon.
Public authoritative Mankunwar Deshmukh opposed Kokate's bail plea.
Kokate's condemnation was upheld by the Nashik territory and sessions tribunal connected Tuesday. On Thursday nighttime helium resigned from the Maharashtra furniture wherever helium held the sports and younker affairs portfolio.
A squad of Nashik constabulary reached Bandra precocious Thursday (December 18) nighttime to execute the apprehension warrant.
The lawsuit against Kokate dates backmost to 1989-1992, involving a lodging strategy for EWS with an yearly income bounds of ₹30,000.
He was accused of securing a level for him successful the strategy by submitting mendacious income affidavits.
Citing slope loans for grapes and rabi crops, arsenic good arsenic records from the Kopargaon Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana (sugar factory), the magistrate's tribunal noted that helium was a prosperous husbandman whose income acold exceeded the eligibility threshold.
