Noting that issues flagged may be “just the tip of the proverbial iceberg”, the Supreme Court has ordered a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in DLF’s ‘The Primus DLF Garden City’ residential project in Gurugram.“It may, tentatively put, just be the tip of the proverbial iceberg. We are hard-pressed to reckon that it may be only a one-off incident. We are more concerned for the reason that in the organised real estate sector, such instances occur, we can well imagine the plight of the ordinary consumers,” a Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice R Mahadevan said.“We may take judicial notice of the fact that in our nation, there are many who put their entire life-savings into buying one small house/flat of their own, that too at/towards the fag end of their careers or lives. Yet, they are often unable to realise their dreams,” it said.The Bench noted that “prima facie, it is clear that there were many issues, in respect of the representation made, on behalf of DLF to the prospective buyers. These representations may not have been fully translated into reality…The other aspect meriting some examination is the role of the authorities, statutory or otherwise, who are regulatory and also meant to function as a safeguard for the interests of the ordinary consumer.”The order came on February 25 after CBI Director Praveen Sood and the agency’s Special Director Manoj Shashidhar appeared before the top court and the CBI Director “stated that the CBI would conduct an inquiry, as desired by the court”.The Bench directed the CBI to set up a dedicated team to carry out an independent probe under the supervision of its Director.“We make it clear that any person or authority, whosoever required, shall assist the CBI. The Director, CBI, may constitute an appropriate team specifically for the above purpose. Such a team shall discharge its duties independently of any fetter, as officers of this court, under the overall supervision and control of the Director. Time spent on such work shall be counted as full-time duty for the CBI officers so nominated,” it said.Asking the probe agency to place its findings before it by April 25, 2026, the Bench requested Additional Solicitor General SV Raju to assist it in the matter and posted the matter for hearing on April 28.The order came on homebuyers’ appeals against an order of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) with regard to ‘The Primus DLF Garden City’ residential project at Sector 82-A, Gurugram, launched in May 2012.The homebuyers alleged that the builder promised possession by February 2016 but the project was not completed on time and only a Partial Occupation Certificate (POC) was issued on October 7, 2016 and there were no permanent water or electricity connections. One of the promised 24-metre access roads also did not exist.Acting on the buyers’ complaint the NCDRC in 2023 partly allowed their plea and concluded that there was deficiency in service and unfair trade practice.The homebuyers moved the top court, accusing the developer of failing to comply with the NCDRC’s directions. The court also asked the developer to pay Rs 1 lakh to Rohit Bhayana — one of the petitioners – as cost of litigation.