MP Minister moves Consumer Forum against Air India

Madhya Pradesh Minister Brajendra Pratap Singh has lodged a complaint in Consumer Forum against Air India (AI) for not allowing him to board its Delhi-bound flight from Raja Bhoj Airport here en-route to US last month despite carrying a valid ticket.

"Singh lodged a complaint against Air India in Consumer Forum here recently after returning from New York for not allowing him in its flight on June 23 despite carrying a proper ticket," official sources said today.

The Minister of State for Agriculture has sought compensation from AI for "damaging his social image" by denying him boarding pass and also demanded fare of an aircraft that he had to arrange to reach Delhi, they said.

Singh has said he was not given the boarding pass for the Airbus 320 aircraft as it has capacity for 168 passengers while tickets were booked for 170.

The Minister maintained that he was not allowed to board even though he reached the airport at 8.10 am for the flight scheduled to leave for Delhi at 9.10 am.

AI officials on duty had told Singh at the check-in counter that he could not be accommodated as the plane was full to its capacity, the sources said.

The officials had said five or seven additional tickets are usually issued anticipating cancellations.

Singh returned from the airport and later went to Delhi by a State Government plane, they said.

However, Manohar Dubey, Deputy Secretary, Public Services Guarantee, who was accompanying the Minister and was standing in front of him in the queue, was allowed to board the plane, they said.

The Minister, along with Dubey, was on his way to US to collect an award given by the United Nations for the work done by the Madhya Pradesh Government under the Public Services Guarantee Act.