1 2024 INSC 818 [NON-REPORTABLE] IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.3398/2024 VIMALAKKA RAMAPPA KOLI @ TALWAR Appellant(s) VERSUS THE STATE OF KARNATAKA Respondent(s) JUDGMENT ABHAY S.OKA, J. FACTUAL ASPECTS 1. The appellant-accused was prosecuted for the offences punishable under Sections 196, 198, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, ‘the IPC’). The allegation of the prosecution is that on an application made by the appellant on 9th September, 2022 to the competent authority falsely claiming that she belongs to Hindu Holer Caste, which was a Scheduled Caste, a caste certificate was issued stating that she belongs to Hindu Holer Caste. Based on the caste certificate, the appellant applied for a grant of a loan to Karnataka Scheduled 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),