India, Nov. 6 -- Maharashtra's medical education and drugs department has launched an inquiry into alleged financial irregularities after a government resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday revealed that smoke detectors were being procured for nearly Rs.9.43 lakh per unit, approximately 20 times the market price.

The total price for the 839 units to be purchased has now come up to Rs.79.1 crore, raising serious questions about the procurement process and the sole supplier classification granted to the product.

The GR sanctioned the purchase of 839 units of Detex smoke detectors for three hospitals: Sassoon General Hospital, Pune (350 units), KEM Hospital, Mumbai (136 units), and Solapur Super Speciality Hospital (353 units) from a single com...