The Maharashtra legislature is probing a viral video that allegedly shows Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing 'rummy' on his phone during a council session. The clip, shared by opposition MLAs, has sparked questions about its timing and intent
Sources said an internal probe will attempt in establish who filmed the minister during the proceedings. File Pic
The Maharashtra legislature secretariat has launched an internal investigation into a viral video that allegedly shows Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing ‘rummy’ on his mobile phone during a session of the legislative council, sources said on Thursday.
According to them, the video, shared by NCP (SP) leaders Rohit Pawar and Jitendra Awhad on social media, was recorded around 1.40 pm on July 10 while proceedings of the Upper House were ongoing, news agency PTI reported.
The footage shows Kokate seated alongside PWD Minister Shivendrasinh Bhosale and BJP MLC Sadabhau Khot, both from the ruling Mahayuti alliance. However, none of them, nor others nearby on the treasury benches, appear to be using their phones in any noticeable way, the sources noted.
“It appears the video was taken from the visitors’ gallery above. One wonders about the intention behind releasing such a clip ten days later,” they said, reported news agency PTI.
The three-week monsoon session of the state legislature concluded on July 18.
The video purportedly showing Kokate playing 'rummy' on his mobile in the Upper House was first posted on X by NCP (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar and later by his party colleague Jitendra Awhad, triggering a political firestorm.
The sources said the internal probe will also attempt to ascertain who filmed the minister during the proceedings in the legislative council.
Kokate, who represents the Sinnar constituency in Nashik district, has denied the allegations and has threatened to sue the opposition MLAs for defamation. He has claimed that he does not even know how to play the online rummy game.
The minister has also said that he will write to the presiding officers of the legislature to conduct a probe, asserting that he would submit his resignation during the Winter Session in Nagpur if found guilty, as per the news agency PTI.
The video had prompted Chhava Sanghatna activists to demand Kokate's resignation. They had also confronted NCP MP Sunil Tatkare and thrown a pack of cards in front of him during a press conference in Latur. Angered by this, NCP workers had assaulted Chhava Sanghatna activists.
(With PTI inputs)
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