A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report in 2001 raised the question over why the aluminium caskets were contracted for around $2,000 per piece when they were available in transactions elsewhere for $172 each.
[1] The report revealed that the government overpaid for coffins during the Kargil war – and that around Rs 1,762 crore worth of supplies (over four-fifths of the total) to help fight the conflict were delivered more than six months after it ended.
The caskets were purchased from Buitron and Baiza, a company based in United States of America rendering funeral services.
The then ruling government National Democratic Alliance had purchased 500 caskets worth $2500 each[2] which was presumed to be thirteen times the original amount.
[8] Victor Baiza, a US National who supplied the aluminium casket and body bags to the Indian Army was also named in the charge sheet.