SC Stays Ex-Maharashtra Minister Kokate's Cheating Conviction, Halts MLA Disqualification

• Supreme Court stayed the conviction of former Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate in a cheating and forgery case.
• A vacation bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Maharashtra government.
• The stay prevents Kokate's disqualification as a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA).
• However, Kokate is barred from holding any office of profit.
• His conviction and two-year sentence by a magistrate were upheld by the Nashik sessions court for dishonestly inducing flat allotments.

Why It Matters: SC temporarily halts ex-minister Kokate's conviction, protecting his MLA status but barring office of profit.