MUMBAI: Political pressure mounted after the MIDC police arrested seven alleged members of the Kanna gang and invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against them for allegedly terrorising companies, developers and construction workers in Andheri and other Mumbai suburbs.The gang allegedly posed as a Mathadi workers’ union and extorted protection money running into several crore every month. Police said no company or developer had filed a complaint despite the alleged intimidation, with victims reluctant to approach police for fear of reprisals.The arrests followed an August 16 attack on registered Mathadi worker Nadeem Shaikh, 27, near Tradestar Building on Kondivita Road in Andheri East. Police said the accused demanded Rs 20,000 a month from Shaikh to allow him to work at the site. After he refused, they allegedly assaulted him with bamboo and wooden sticks, fracturing his left knee and causing kidney damage and a severe head injury. Shaikh was admitted to Cooper Hospital.The arrested men have been identified as Puran Singh alias Chadda, 39, Rohit Salunkhe, 27, Imran Havaldar, 27, Suresh Gaud alias Kisan, 30, Akash Singh alias Nepalese, 30, Rajkumar Munuswamy alias Lala and Arjun Mullu alias Daku, 37.Police said the seven allegedly formed the gang’s third layer and carried out attacks, while brothers Kannan Chinnadurai Vanniyar, alias Bada Kanna, and Chota Kanna allegedly controlled the extortion network. The brothers, who police said had been running the gang for about a decade, are absconding.Investigators said the gang targeted around 1,000 companies in MIDC areas, allegedly demanding between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh from each, while developers were allegedly asked to pay Rs 120 per sq ft depending on the size of their projects.“The gang allegedly demanded ‘Varai’ or protection money without working, stopped vehicles and attacked victims with swords, knives and other weapons. They allegedly extorted money from a genuine Mathadi union apart from corporate houses, industrialists and developers,” said inspector Manojkumar Mane.DCP (West Zone-3) Datta Nalawade said the accused were not members of any registered union but had allegedly formed an organised gang to establish dominance under the guise of a Mathadi workers’ union. Those who refused to pay were allegedly prevented from bringing labourers into construction sites, while workers and employees were assaulted, police said.Police said the accused face more than 24 cases involving attempted murder, extortion and causing grievous hurt. They also seized a car allegedly purchased with extorted money and claimed the accused possessed large quantities of gold jewellery bought from the proceeds.The alleged gang leaders, the Kanna brothers, fled after the FIR was registered and have since deleted their social-media accounts and severed contacts, police said. Investigators are continuing efforts to trace them.