Mumbai: In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Monday granted relief to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Manikrao Kokate, staying his conviction in a long-standing cheating and forgery case dating back to 1995. The apex court also put a hold on his disqualification from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, allowing him to continue as an MLA.
The case had earlier been rejected by the Bombay High Court, which had refused to grant a stay on Kokate’s conviction. However, Kokate approached the Supreme Court challenging that decision.
A vacation bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, issued a notice to the Maharashtra government regarding Kokate’s plea. The bench clarified that while the conviction is stayed, Kokate will not hold any office of profit during this period.
The court’s interim order ensures that Kokate remains an MLA while the legal proceedings continue, marking a major relief for the senior NCP leader and his supporters.
