Mumbai, March 18 -- A sessions court has acquitted a 45-year-old Santacruz resident in a rape case, noting that the prosecution failed to prove the charges and that the evidence on record was inconsistent and unreliable. The accused, who had been in custody since his arrest on May 20, 2019, was acquitted by additional sessions judge Mahesh K. Jadhav of the Mumbai Sessions Court on Monday. The court directed that he be released if not required in any other case. According to the prosecution, the case stemmed from a complaint by a 33-year-old woman, who suffered from epilepsy and partial physical disability. She had alleged that her neighbour had called her to his house in a Santacruz chawl on May 18, 2019 and sexually assaulted her. During the trial, the prosecution examined 12 witnesses, including the complainant, her family members, medical professionals and investigating officers, and relied on medical and forensic evidence. However, the court found serious gaps in the prosecution's case. It noted that the complainant's testimony contained key contradictions. During cross-examination, she admitted that she had not gone to the accused's house, which the court said undermined the allegation of assault at that location. Further, forensic and medical evidence did not support the allegations. In addition, the court took note of a tenancy dispute involving the accused's residence, observing that the possibility of false implication could not be ruled out....