Maharashtra Court Suspends Minister Manikrao Kokate's Two-Year Jail Sentence in 1995 Cheating Case

The suspension allows Kokate to remain out of prison while his appeal against the conviction is under review, but the risk of disqualification from office persists.

• Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and his brother were convicted of using forged documents to secure government-quota flats in 1995.
• A Nashik sessions court suspended their two-year prison sentence pending the outcome of their appeal against the conviction.
• The court granted bail to both Kokate and his brother on a surety bond of ₹1 lakh each, with a fine of ₹50,000 each also imposed.
• The conviction risks Kokate's disqualification under the Representation of the People Act, which bars public representatives sentenced to two or more years in prison from holding office.
• Opposition leaders are demanding Kokate's immediate disqualification, citing precedents of swift action in similar cases involving public officials.

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