New Delhi, Dec 22: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the conviction of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate in the 1995 Nashik housing fraud case.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Maharashtra government on Kokate’s plea challenging the refusal of the Bombay High Court to stay his conviction. Though it protected his membership in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the apex court clarified that Kokate will not be allowed to exercise any governmental powers while the proceedings are pending.

“Issue notice. Meanwhile, the conviction of the petitioner shall remain stayed to the extent that there shall be no disqualification as a Member of the Legislative Assembly. However, no power shall be exercised by the petitioner,” the CJI Kant-led Bench ordered.

The relief from the top court comes days after the Bombay High Court had refused to stay Kokate’s conviction but suspended his two-year jail sentence and granted him protection from arrest as it heard his revision plea against the sessions court verdict.

Earlier, a Nashik sessions court had convicted Kokate in a case involving the illegal acquisition of government flats reserved under the Chief Minister’s quota and sentenced him to two years’ rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 50,000.

Following the sessions court verdict, Kokate was stripped of the Sports and Minority Affairs portfolios, and he resigned from the Maharashtra Cabinet. His resignation was accepted by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar amid a chorus from the Opposition.

The case against Kokate and his brother Vijay Kokate dates back to 1995 and pertains to the alleged misappropriation of flats meant for low-income individuals who do not own any other property.

The prosecution alleged that the brothers submitted forged affidavits and documents to acquire flats in the Nirman View Apartment at Canada Corner in Nashik. Investigations had also revealed that the brothers were using two additional flats in the same building that had been allotted to other beneficiaries.

Based on an inquiry by the district administration, Vishwanath Patil, then an official of the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) department, lodged a complaint, following which a fraud case was registered at the Sarkarwada Police Station.

Since his induction into the Cabinet, Kokate has frequently courted controversy. He was earlier divested of the Agriculture portfolio following allegations that he was playing games on his mobile phone during a Legislative Council session.

Kokate denied the charge, but the episode drew widespread criticism. He also drew criticism for remarks on farmers and for attacking coalition partner BJP during a municipal campaign.

Palakkad, Dec 22: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday assured justice to the family of Ram Narayan, the migrant worker who was beaten to death by a mob at Attappallam in Walayar and said strict action would be taken against all those responsible for the crime that has shaken Kerala.

In a statement on Monday, the Chief Minister said a special investigation team led by the Palakkad Superintendent of Police is probing the case and has been directed to examine all aspects of the incident and initiate appropriate legal action.

The government will also consider the matter and ensure suitable compensation for the bereaved family.

Calling the incident unacceptable, CM Vijayan said such acts tarnish the image of Kerala as a progressive society and stressed the need for vigilance to prevent a recurrence.

The Chief Minister’s remarks came as disturbing details emerged from the remand report, which revealed the extreme cruelty inflicted on Ram Narayan, a native of Chhattisgarh who had come to Kerala in search of work.

According to the report, the accused assaulted him with a clear and conscious intent to kill, subjecting him to hours of sustained violence.

Medical findings recorded ahead of the post-mortem showed more than 40 injuries across the body.

Severe head injuries, profuse bleeding and multiple grievous wounds were cited as the cause of death.

Investigators said heavy sticks were used to beat the victim, while marks on the body indicate he was thrown to the ground, kicked repeatedly and dragged. X-ray examinations confirmed that he was stomped on his face and back, pointing to prolonged torture rather than a single attack.

The remand report also notes that those who attempted to intervene were threatened and driven away.

Meanwhile, Local Self-Government Minister M.B. Rajesh, who hails from Palakkad, alleged that the attack stemmed from hate-driven politics, claiming the victim was targeted after being branded a “Bangladeshi”.

He said the government stood firmly with the victim’s family and would ensure maximum punishment for the culprits.

Five accused have so far been arrested, all of whom have criminal antecedents.

Police said efforts are underway to trace more suspects as the investigation continues.

New Delhi, Dec 20: A SpiceJet passenger has accused an Air India Express pilot of assaulting him following a dispute over allegedly cutting the boarding queue at Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 1 in an incident that has triggered widespread attention on social media.

The passenger, Ankit Dewan, took to X, sharing a photograph showing blood on his face.

He claimed that the incident unfolded in front of his seven-year-old daughter, who, he said, has been deeply traumatised after witnessing the attack.

Tagging the Delhi Police on social media, Dewan questioned why he could not register a complaint after returning from his trip.

“Why can’t I file a complaint after coming back? Must I sacrifice my money too, to seek justice? Will the CCTV footage disappear in the next two days till I make it back to Delhi?” he asked.

The Delhi Police, however, claimed that no formal complaint had been received in connection with the incident.

“The matter has come to the knowledge of the police through a social media post. Whenever a written complaint is received by the victim in this regard, appropriate legal action will be taken,” the police said.

Dewan also alleged that he was forced to write a letter stating that he would not pursue the matter further.

“… It was either write that letter, or miss my flight and throw the Rs 1.2 lakh holiday bookings down the drain,” he said.

Dewan stated that the incident occurred while he was travelling with his family.

According to Dewan, airport staff directed him, his wife, and their children, including a four-month-old infant in a stroller, to use a security check-in lane typically meant for staff members to ease their movement through the terminal.

However, he alleged that while they were in the queue, some staff members began moving ahead of him.

“The staff was cutting the queue ahead of me. On calling them out, Capt. Virender, who himself was doing the same thing, asked me if I was anpadh (uneducated), and couldn’t read the signs that said this entry was for staff,” he said, adding that the exchange soon turned into a heated verbal argument.

“Not able to exercise restraint, the AIX (Air India Express) pilot proceeded to physically assault me, leaving me bloody. The blood in the photograph on his shirt is also mine,” Dewan said in another post on X, where he identified the pilot involved.

Air India Express issued a statement condemning the incident and said it does not tolerate such conduct.

“The employee concerned has been removed from official duties with immediate effect, pending investigation. Appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated based on the findings of the inquiry,” the airline said.

The airline clarified that the individual was travelling as a passenger on another airline at the time of the incident and was not on official duty.

“Air India Express upholds the highest standards of conduct and professionalism, and remains committed to ensuring that its employees act responsibly at all times,” it added in the statement.