India, Dec. 18 -- Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday divested Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Manikrao Kokate of his portfolios, hours after a Nashik court issued an arrest warrant against him following his conviction in a cheating and fraud case dating back over three decades. This means Kokate will remain a cabinet minister but without any portfolio.

An arrest is looming large on Kokate as the Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to grant him immediate relief and suspend his conviction. The high court posted the matter for hearing on Friday. Besides arrest, Kokate also faces disqualification as an MLA if the high court does not suspend his conviction on Friday.

With pressure mounting from the Opposit...