Rajwinder Kaur, the maternal aunt of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, has become the de facto power broker in the Dera Baba Nanak Assembly constituency, leveraging her nephew's underworld influence to consolidate control. She now manages his criminal syndicate and has emerged as the matriarch of the Bhagwanpuria clan following the killing of her sister Harjit Kaur, the gangster's mother, in March 2025.
Rise to Power
Police officers confirm that Rajwinder became the family's undisputed figurehead after Harjit Kaur's death in internecine warfare. Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who faces nearly 100 criminal cases, is currently incarcerated in a jail in Assam. Despite his imprisonment, he orchestrated Rajwinder's election as chairman of the Dera Baba Nanak block samiti in March 2026. It was an open secret that Jaggu telephoned samiti members and government officials to ensure her victory without any hitch.
Rajwinder now uses her family's underworld standing to manage her nephew's criminal operations. Sarpanches begin arriving at her home in Bhagwanpur village early each morning to seek settlements in disputes, most of them related to land. The police are largely bypassed as Rajwinder, affectionately called "Massi" (aunt), decides what should and should not be done.
Local Support and Philanthropy
Scores of young men gather at her residence daily, many touching her feet as a mark of respect. Residents speak highly of the family, claiming it consistently supports the poor and needy. The clan has extended financial assistance to the village's government middle school and distributes uniforms, school bags, and books to underprivileged students.
In March 2026, Rajwinder organized the marriages of 101 destitute girls, an event attended by numerous sarpanches, village elders, and religious dignitaries. Preparations are now under way for another round of mass marriages in the coming weeks. Police officers, however, question the source of funds used to organize such large-scale events.
Political Ambitions
Rajwinder has made little secret of her intention to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections from the Dera Baba Nanak seat. Officials go out of their way to respond to what locals refer to as "Massi da phone," knowing that with the gangster's backing, they have little choice but to heed her instructions. These days, she travels in a large cavalcade of luxury vehicles, accompanied by scores of loyalists, and attends almost every social function in the constituency, distributing generous amounts of money as 'shagun'.
Asked about her political ambitions, Rajwinder said: "Akal Purakh di marzi hai" ("It is God's will"). She and her supporters are already making preparations for her election campaign. Waris Punjab De, the party led by MP Amritpal Singh, has decided to support her.
Threats and Controversy
During the Dera Baba Nanak by-election in November 2024, Jaggu openly threatened voters against supporting Congress candidate Jatinder Kaur, the wife of MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. The threats prompted Randhawa to lodge complaints with the Election Commission of India, the Punjab Director General of Police, and the Batala police over the intimidating phone calls.
