New Delhi, Dec. 22 -- The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the conviction of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) (Ajit Pawar Faction) MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) Manikrao Kokate in a cheating and fraud case.

Granting relief to the senior leader from Maharashtra's Sinnar, a vacation bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stayed Kokates' conviction to the limited extent that he shall not be disqualified as an MLA.

The bench also issued notice to the Maharashtra government seeking a response on Kokates' plea challenging his conviction and sentence awarded by a Nashik court in February this year.

"Issue Notice. Meanwhile, the conviction of the petitioner shall remain stayed to the extent that there shall be n...