In a severe indictment of Defence Ministry, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India Tuesday said grave financial impropriety was committed in emergency purchase of weaponry for Kargil operation when even purchase of coffins for dead war heroes was not spared. The report, tabled in parliament Tuesday amidst uproar and demand for resignation of defence minister George Fernandes, said there were lapses and irregularities in the entire purchase of specialised weaponry for mountain warfare aimed to give country's soldiers some advantage in a bleak terrain. It highlighted financial impropriety in as many as 35 of the 123 defence contracts worth Rs 2,163 crore for Kargil operations.
While critical supplies of clothing, ammunition and arms could not reach the troops during the operation, an amount of Rs 1,046 crore, almost half of the total entirely in foreign exchange was spent fruitlessly breaching establised principles of propriety, CAG said in its report reviewing procurement for Operation Vijay.

The report said supplies of vital equipment ranging from hand-held thermals, terminally guided ammunition, bullet proof jacket, flame throwers, sniper and anti-material rifles valued at Rs 2,150 crore were received after the cessation of hostilities in july 1999.
Rapping the government, CAG said supplies valued at additional Rs 1,762.21 crore were received after january, 2000 six months after the war was over and deals for weaponry worth Rs 1,606.26 crore were contracted after cessation of hostilities. Bureau Report