A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted a 26-year-old man accused of raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl in 2018, giving him the benefit of doubt, reported news agency PTI.

According to PTI, special court judge V V Virkar, hearing cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, in the order passed on June 6 said the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against the accused. A copy of the order was made available on Monday.