A Thane court has acquitted a 36-year-old woman in a murder case of 2018, observing that while there were suspicions surrounding the accused, the prosecution failed to establish her guilt beyond reasonable doubt, reported news agency PTI.

"Suspicion howsoever strong cannot take place of proof," Principal District and Sessions Judge S B Agrawal said in the order passed on Monday, reported PTI.

The circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to prove that the accused was responsible for the murder, the Thane court noted, reported PTI.