Overview

• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu unveiled the AP Excise Suraksha App with hologram scanning, traceability data, geo-tagging and geo-fencing to verify bottles and curb diversion.
• The app is slated to appear on the Google Play Store on October 13 and to become fully operational on October 16, according to the government.
• A Special Investigation Team headed by IG G. V. G. Ashok Kumar was constituted to probe the Mulakalacheruvu case and to draft a roadmap to revamp excise administration.
• Officials reported 16 arrests out of 23 accused, with transit warrants for four suspects abroad, and links alleged to traders in Ibrahimpatnam with connections traced to Africa.
• Retailers are required to scan each bottle before sale, consumers can verify bottles and report issues via toll-free 14405, and geo-tagging is intended to block supply to unauthorised belt shops; Naidu also said an agreement with Google is expected on October 14 to advance Visakhapatnam as a data hub.