Kokate moves HC against conviction; hearing on Friday

The minister skipped the cabinet meeting and got himself admitted to Lilavati Hospital, citing ill health

- Urvi Mahajani

Maharashtra sports minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate moved the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, challenging a sessions court order that upheld his conviction and two-year jail term in a 1995 cheating and forgery case.

His counsel, Aniket Nikam, mentioned the plea before Justice RN Laddha, seeking an urgent hearing and arguing that the Sinnar MLA faced the imminent loss of both his ministerial post and Assembly membership. Justice Laddha said the court would hear Kokate's plea for suspension of conviction on Friday.

Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar said no decision had yet been taken on Kokate's MLA status, as he was awaiting a certified copy of the court order.

Kokate was earlier shifted out of the agriculture ministry after courting controversy over remarks on farmers and a video purportedly showing him playing a mobile game in the Legislative Council. He was later assigned the sports portfolio, while the agriculture ministry was given to NCP leader Datta Bharane.