Thane: A Thane local court has acquitted a man arrested for allegedly possessing gutkha and other contraband due to lack of evidence against him.

District Judge N N Shrimangale acquitted the arrested accused, Surendra Rampalat Chaurasiya (37), a resident of Bhayander area in Thane tnwhile observing that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against him. The prosecution informed the court that the police and FDA officials had seized banned material like gutkha, pan masala and scented betelnuts of different brands valued at Rs 1,70,860, from Chaurasiya's residence during a raid on December 8, 2013.