A Nashik police team visited the Lilavati Hospital in Bandra West where former Maharashtra Sports Minister Manikrao Kokate is scheduled to undergo an angioplasty on Friday, which is likely to delay his arrest, even as the Bombay High Court hears his plea to stay his conviction.
His daughter Seemantini Kokate and wife Seema Kokate are present at Lilavati Hospital, where his health is being closely monitored by his doctors.
The Nashik police visited the Lilavati Hospital and consulted with doctors regarding Kokate’s treatment. The 68-year-old MLA’s team of lawyers was also present at Lilavati Hospital in Bandra West, along with his family members, who reportedly requested the police to allow him to complete his medical tests before taking him to Nashik.
A decision regarding further treatment, discharge or monitoring of his condition will be taken only after studying the angiography report, sources said.
Moves are also underway regarding the process of issuing a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Kokate directly at the hospital itself, according to sources.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court is scheduled to hear Kokate’s plea on Friday. Kokate had sought a stay on his conviction in order to continue serving as an elected representative or MLA.
If Kokate fails to get relief from the high court on Friday, he could also be disqualified as a member of the legislative assembly (MLA).
On Thursday, Kokate sent his resignation letter to NCP president and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar specifying that tendering his resignation subject to the Bombay High Court ruling on his petition, which has sought a stay on his conviction.
“By obeying the district and sessions court decisions in my appeal on December 16, and on ethical grounds, I am tendering my resignation, subject to the Bombay HC ruling in the petition before it,” his letter had stated.
According to sources, before Ajit Pawar accepted Kokate’s resignation, Pawar tried his level best to delay the acceptance of Kokate’s resignation letter until the Bombay High Court delivered its verdict on Friday.
However, Fadnavis is reported to have told Ajit Pawar that Kokate could not continue as a minister at any cost, since the high court generally does not overrule verdicts delivered by lower courts and that waiting for the Bombay High Court order would only lead to more criticism.
Manikrao Kokate and his brother, Vijay Kokate, were convicted for using forged documents to obtain two flats in a prime locality in Nashik in 1995, under the chief minister’s quota for economically weaker sections. A Nashik district trial court convicted the two brothers to two years’ imprisonment. A police team is looking for Vijay Kokate, sources said.
On Tuesday, a sessions court upheld the verdict after which Kokate rushed to the Bombay High Court which posted the matter for hearing on Friday.
Sources said that as things stand, a new minister will be appointed in place of Manikrao Kokate only after the Zilla Parishad elections conclude. Accordingly, the sports and minority portfolios held by Manikrao Kokate will remain with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar until the local body elections are over.
Sources also said that OBC MLAs from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP interested in the ministerial posts held by Kokate until recently, include Anil Patil, former Food & Civil Supplies Minister Dhananjay Munde, who had to resign and Sanjay Bansode.
Maratha MLAs from the Ajit Pawar-led NCP who are keen on Kokate’s ministerial portfolios include Prakash Solankhe, Sangram Jagtap and Sunil Shelke, sources said.