The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken physical possession of Vitthal Greens, a plotted residential project in Janjgiri village of Chhattisgarh's Durg district linked to Chaitanya Baghel, son of former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the money-laundering probe into the alleged Chhattisgarh liquor scam, according to reports by The420 and Chhattisgarh Vaibhav.

Source: The420

A team from the ED's Raipur zonal office reached the project on Saturday, installed the agency's official board at the premises and pasted a copy of the possession order at the colony gate, the reports said. The project has been valued at Rs 26.43 crore.

The colony has a total of 385 plots, of which the ED took possession of 355 plots, according to Adarsh Loktantra News and Chhattisgarh Vaibhav. Around 30 plots that had already been sold were kept out of the action for now. The project was developed by Chaitanya Baghel through his proprietorship firm, Baghel Developers.

What the ED alleges

The ED has alleged that Rs 18.9 crore generated from the alleged liquor scam was invested in the development of Vitthal Greens. The agency has put the project's break-up at Rs 9.49 crore for the land and Rs 16.95 crore for development works. These are the agency's allegations and have not been proved in court.

The physical possession follows earlier steps under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In November 2025, the ED provisionally attached assets worth Rs 61.20 crore linked to Chaitanya Baghel, including the Vitthal Greens project. The PMLA Adjudicating Authority confirmed the attachment after a hearing on March 19, 2026, with its order issued on March 23, 2026, clearing the way for the agency to take formal possession.

The ED has alleged that an organised liquor syndicate operated in Chhattisgarh between 2019 and 2023, misusing the state excise machinery and the Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) to generate proceeds of crime exceeding Rs 2,883 crore. Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the ED on July 18, 2025, following searches at his Bhilai residence.

Possession is not confiscation

Under the PMLA, taking possession of an attached property does not transfer its ownership to the government. The step is meant to preserve and secure the asset until the trial concludes; confiscation can happen only if the charges are proved and result in a conviction. The matter remains before the court.

Sources: The420 (English report, November 15, 2026), Adarsh Loktantra News (Hindi report, November 15, 2026) and Chhattisgarh Vaibhav (Hindi report, November 15, 2026).