New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has initiated inquiry following reports that low-cost airline Air Deccan has been under-reporting the number of passengers to cover up the fact over-bookings.

An official spokesperson confirmed that the aviation regulator will probe if any regulation was violated as alleged by a private TV channel.

CNN-IBN recently showed a passenger list (or the manifest) for Januray 29 which it said was full of irregularities. The document showed that total number of passengers on paper is 170 while the actual passengers on board were 180.

On the list, passenger number 14 and passenger number 15 were the same person. Instead of the fictitious passenger number 15, there was another person sitting on the plane.

The names of people who were declared ''no shows'' were not on the list at all, said CNN-IBN in an exclusive report. By doing so, the airline defrauded the over-booked passengers of a seat and a refund and by under-reporting, it broke international safety norms and also cheated the government of the passenger service fee.

Air Deccan denied the charges.

UNI