Kolkata/IBNS: The Income Tax Department on Wednesday raided the residences of West Bengal Minister Aroop Biswas' brother Swarup Biswas and his wife Juin Bisas in connection with extortion and tax evasion related to two construction companies, media reports said.

The IT Department has raided five locations across Kolkata including Swarup Biswas' New Alipore residence and Juin Biswas' office.

The Biswas couple have also been questioned.

While Swarup Biswas is a Trinamool Congress leader, Juin Biswas is a local councillor belonging to the ruling party.

The raids just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections have assumed significance as the TMC has already faced several corruption charges in diverse sectors leading to the arrests of several top leaders including erstwhile Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.