Vigilance teams inspect markets across Andhra Pradesh, seize goods worth ₹10.43 crore

Vijayawada The Vigilance and Enforcement Department registered 516 cases and seized goods worth ₹10.43 crore during statewide inspections of markets, wholesale establishments and rice mills from October 26 to November 14 for violations of prescribed norms. The inspections were conducted on the instructions of Director General (Vigilance and Enforcement) Harish Kumar Gupta to ensure the availability of essential commodities to the public at reasonable prices and monitor market prices, stocks and supply conditions.

A total of 294 teams inspected 248 markets, 714 wholesale business establishments, 17 rice mills, 13 warehouses and 144 retail shops to check illegal stocking of essential commodities, sale at exorbitant prices, creation of artificial scarcity and black marketing. In a release, the department said it would continue inspections in coordination with the Civil Supplies, GST, Food Safety, Legal Metrology, Revenue and Police departments to ensure that essential commodities were available to the public at reasonable prices.

Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta warned that stringent action, including invocation of the Preventive Detention (PD) Act, would be initiated against those violating the prescribed norms.