The Chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee has denied any accusations of misusing funds.

According to Mumbai-based television channel TimesNow, the organising committee has allegedly paid a small London company close to USD$600,000 for the provision of makeshift toilets, road barriers and rental cars.

Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said he was pained by what he termed baseless and unfounded allegations, adding that he would likely be suing the news source for defamation. The media channel has claimed that around USD$585,000 was transferred by the committee to A.M. Films, which had already been receiving USD$32,500 in monthly payments.

With the New Delhi Commonwealth Games set to open on October 3, the highly publicised and much criticised construction program has been working overtime to meet deadlines. Dozens of venues were supposed to have been completed months ago to allow for testing and just ten weeks out the critics are circling on the funds scandal which is alleged to have taken place in London last October. It was there that USD$1.3 million was spent by the committee on an event which culminated with the Queen launching the symbolic baton relay.

TimesNow says the British government has queried the unofficial contract with A.M. Films, though Kalmadi said the deal was done at the last minute on the recommendation of the Indian High Commission meaning a written contract could not be drafted. He also added that he has not heard of any complaints from the UK government, nor has his budget included monthly payments to the service provider.