India, Dec. 21 -- Former minister and NCP legislator Manikrao Kokate is likely to approach the Supreme Court, to seek a stay on his conviction in a case that has snowballed into a political controversy and led to his resignation as a minister. The case relates to cheating and forgery in the allegedly fraudulent allotment of a flat under the EWS quota.

Kokate resigned as minister for sports and youth affairs, and minority affairs, on Thursday after the Bombay High Court refused to grant him relief in the case. Then, on Friday, the court refused to stay his conviction but suspended the two-year sentence awarded by a Nashik court. The high court also granted him bail. Kokate now plans to approach the apex court for relief, said a senior NCP...