Caste and Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation Limited, Belgaum and the loan was granted. Later on, the certificate was scrutinized by the District Caste Verification Committee (the Committee), which concluded that the appellant did not belong to the Hindu Holer Caste but2 belonged to the Hindu Talwar Caste. Accordingly, the Committee invalidated the caste certificate. Based on the First Information Report registered, a charge sheet was filed against the appellant for the offences punishable under Sections 196, 198 and 420 of the IPC. 2. The learned Judicial Magistrate passed an order of acquittal. In an appeal against acquittal preferred by the respondent-State, the Sessions Court, by judgment dated 21st January, 2015, overturned the order of acquittal and convicted the appellant for the offences punishable under Sections 196, 198 and 420 of the IPC. The appellant was sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for three years and a fine of Rs.5,000/-. In default, he was sentenced to