The I-T department has accused Swarup of tax evasion and possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, sources said.

According to reports, the I-T department officials reached Swarup’s flat at Sahapur Colony in New Alipore in Kolkata around 5.30 am on Wednesday. The searches continued for the next three days and ended at around 7pm on Saturday.

Sources said he has been asked to appear before the I-T department’s Kolkata office with some documents within 15 days.

Swarup’s wife Jui Biswas, who is a TMC councillor, said, “In the last four to five years, which BJP leader’s house has been searched by the central agency? …Two Opposition chief ministers have already been arrested. In fact, the Modi government is afraid of all Opposition leaders who enjoy mass support.”

Referring to the searches as “harassment”, state minister Aroop Biswas said, “It is a political revenge. They can’t fight us electorally, so we are being harassed in this way. We are Mamata Banerjee’s loyalists, we will never surrender to such tactics. We have fully cooperated with the Income Tax department’s investigation. I answered everything they asked me.”