Queen Elizabeth “furious” over games corruption: report

The bog of corruption in which the Commonwealth Games are mired has spread its miasma to the UK as well, with the British monarch reportedly ''in a cold fury'' over allegations of financial irregularities involving an Indian-owned British firm and the Commonwealth Games baton relay, launched in London in October last year.

The launch of the baton at Buckingham Palace was attended by Queen Elizabeth II and Indian President Pratibha Patil.

Daily Express on Sunday reported that the baton, which has a message from the queen, has been used by AM films to cash in on the royal name.

The baton is carried by runners around the world before it arrives at New Delhi. The Commonwealth Games organising committee is alleged to have paid AM Films over 450,000 pounds for services during the Queen's baton relay inaugural without proper tendering and paper work.

The report said the Commonwealth Games organising committee (OC) has constituted a three-member panel to probe the allegations by the committee that a letter from the Indian high commission in London, which recommended AM Films for the Queen's Baton Relay inaugural in October last year, was tampered with. ''The queen is understood to be in a cold fury over the affair, which she sees as besmirching the symbolic baton,'' the report added.

However, it was today reported that the queen has dismissed the tabloid story. A source close to her said she ''didn't even know'' about the alleged financial irregularities connected with the event.