A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted three auto-rickshaw drivers accused of unlawful assembly, rioting and attempting to murder a social worker in 2012, giving them the benefit of doubt.

Additional Sessions Judge Amit M Shete in the order passed on April 27 said the prosecution has failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the charges against the persons -- Anilkumar Anantram Nirmal (36), Shivbans @ Shivprasad Sitaram (57) and Sunil Ramswarup Sharma (46).