New Delhi, Dec. 22 -- The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the conviction of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader from the Ajit Pawar faction, Manikrao Kokate, in a 1995 cheating case, to the limited extent that it would not result in his disqualification as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order while issuing notice on Kokate's plea challenging a Bombay High Court order which had suspended his sentence but declined to stay his conviction.
While granting partial relief, the Bench clarified that the stay on conviction would not entitle Kokate to hold any office of profit.
During the hearing, Justice Bagchi observed that "false de...