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Minister Kokate, convicted in the apartment scam, finally resigns; Ajit Pawar accepts the resignation
Mumbai, December 18, 2025: After the Nashik court sentenced him to two years in prison for submitting forged documents for a government apartment, the state's Sports and Minority Development Minister, Manikrao Kokate, has finally resigned from his ministerial post.
Following the court's verdict, late on Wednesday night, both the Sports and Minority Development portfolios held by Kokate were taken away on the recommendation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Subsequently, Kokate submitted his resignation to Nationalist Congress Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Ajit Pawar, while giving information about this through a post on social media, said, "Following the honorable court's verdict, Cabinet member and party colleague Mr. Manikrao Kokate has submitted his resignation to me. In accordance with the party's stance that laws and rules are supreme, this resignation has been accepted in principle. This resignation has been forwarded to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for further action as per the constitutional process."
This case dates back to 1995 and concerns the submission of forged documents to obtain an apartment from the Chief Minister's quota. The Nashik Sessions Court had upheld the lower court's sentence, due to which an arrest warrant was also issued against Kokate.
This development has stirred up the political atmosphere in the MahaYuti government. Kokate has approached the Bombay High Court, and the hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Mumbai, December 18, 2025: After the Nashik court sentenced him to two years in prison for submitting forged documents for a government apartment, the state's Sports and Minority Development Minister, Manikrao Kokate, has finally resigned from his ministerial post.
Following the court's verdict, late on Wednesday night, both the Sports and Minority Development portfolios held by Kokate were taken away on the recommendation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Subsequently, Kokate submitted his resignation to Nationalist Congress Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Ajit Pawar, while giving information about this through a post on social media, said, "Following the honorable court's verdict, Cabinet member and party colleague Mr. Manikrao Kokate has submitted his resignation to me. In accordance with the party's stance that laws and rules are supreme, this resignation has been accepted in principle. This resignation has been forwarded to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for further action as per the constitutional process."
This case dates back to 1995 and concerns the submission of forged documents to obtain an apartment from the Chief Minister's quota. The Nashik Sessions Court had upheld the lower court's sentence, due to which an arrest warrant was also issued against Kokate.
This development has stirred up the political atmosphere in the MahaYuti government. Kokate has approached the Bombay High Court, and the hearing is scheduled for Friday.
Following the court's verdict, late on Wednesday night, both the Sports and Minority Development portfolios held by Kokate were taken away on the recommendation of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Subsequently, Kokate submitted his resignation to Nationalist Congress Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Ajit Pawar, while giving information about this through a post on social media, said, "Following the honorable court's verdict, Cabinet member and party colleague Mr. Manikrao Kokate has submitted his resignation to me. In accordance with the party's stance that laws and rules are supreme, this resignation has been accepted in principle. This resignation has been forwarded to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for further action as per the constitutional process."
This case dates back to 1995 and concerns the submission of forged documents to obtain an apartment from the Chief Minister's quota. The Nashik Sessions Court had upheld the lower court's sentence, due to which an arrest warrant was also issued against Kokate.
This development has stirred up the political atmosphere in the MahaYuti government. Kokate has approached the Bombay High Court, and the hearing is scheduled for Friday.
