Ex-JPMorgan Staffer Accused of Fabricating Sexual Harassment Claims Against Executive Director

Key facts

• Chirayu Rana, 35, a former JPMorgan employee now at Bregal Sagemount, filed a lawsuit under pseudonym John Doe on Monday.
• The suit accuses executive director Lorna Hajdini, 37, of drugging him with Rohypnol and Viagra and threatening his bonus.
• Rana joined JPMorgan's leveraged finance team in spring 2024 and filed an internal complaint in May 2025.
• An internal investigation by HR and in-house lawyers, including review of phone records and emails, found no evidence.
• Rana refused to participate in the investigation and declined to provide central facts, the bank said.
• Rana and Hajdini were colleagues on the leveraged finance team; he did not report to her.
• The Daily Mail broke the story on Wednesday evening, citing a now-retracted court document withdrawn for 'corrections'.
• Hajdini categorically denies all allegations and says she has never been to the location of the alleged assault.

Lawsuit Alleges Drugging and Coercion by Executive Director

A former JPMorgan Chase employee has been accused of fabricating sexual harassment claims against a high-ranking executive after an internal investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. The lawsuit, filed on Monday under the pseudonym John Doe, names executive director Lorna Hajdini and JPMorgan Chase as defendants. The plaintiff, identified by multiple sources as Chirayu Rana, 35, now a principal at investment firm Bregal Sagemount, alleges that Hajdini turned him into her 'sex slave' by drugging him with Rohypnol and Viagra and threatening to slash his bonus if he did not comply. The suit claims the alleged coercion began shortly after Rana joined JPMorgan's leveraged finance team in the spring of 2024. He filed an internal complaint in May 2025, alleging race- and gender-based harassment and abuse of power, before attempting to negotiate a payoff in the 'millions' to leave the company, sources said. The Daily Mail broke the story on Wednesday evening, citing lurid details from a now-retracted court document that has been withdrawn for 'corrections.' Hajdini even turned up unannounced at Rana's apartment and forced him to have sex.

Internal Investigation Finds No Evidence; Plaintiff Refused to Cooperate

JPMorgan Chase strongly denied all of the claims. A bank spokesperson said a thorough internal probe by the bank's HR department and in-house lawyers, which included a review of team phone records and emails, found no evidence to support them. 'Following an investigation, we don't believe there's any merit to these claims,' the spokesperson said. 'While numerous employees cooperated with the investigation, the complainant refused to participate and has declined to provide facts that would be central to support his allegations.' The investigation also revealed that to Hajdini; the two were simply colleagues on the leveraged finance team, which works on large corporate acquisitions, mergers, and buyouts. The bank's denial comes as Rana's attorney, Daniel J. Kaiser, listed on the New York County Supreme Court docket as representing 'John Doe,' did not return calls seeking comment.

Hajdini Denies Allegations; Lawsuit Filed Under Pseudonym

Lorna Hajdini hit back in a statement issued via her lawyers: 'Lorna categorically denies the allegations. She never engaged in any inappropriate conduct with this individual of any kind and has never even been to the location where the alleged sexual assault supposedly took place.' The 37-year-old executive director on JPMorgan's leveraged finance team has not been publicly identified by the bank as the subject of the lawsuit, but sources confirmed her identity. Rana, who did not reply to multiple requests for comment, filed the suit on Monday under the pseudonym John Doe. The suit also names JPMorgan Chase as a defendant, accusing the bank of retaliation and failing to investigate properly. The court document was initially filed and then retracted for 'corrections,' leading to the on Wednesday evening that relied on the now-deleted papers.

Timeline of Allegations and Internal Complaint

According to the lawsuit, the alleged coercion began shortly after Rana joined JPMorgan's leveraged finance team in the spring of 2024. He filed an internal complaint in May 2025, alleging race- and gender-based harassment and abuse of power. After the complaint, Rana attempted to negotiate a payoff that ran into 'millions' to leave the company, sources said. The bank's investigation followed, but Rana refused to participate. The lawsuit was filed on Monday, and the story broke on Wednesday evening via the Daily Mail. The court document was subsequently withdrawn for 'corrections,' but the details had already been widely circulated. The New York County Supreme Court docket lists Daniel J. Kaiser as the attorney for 'John Doe.'

Wider Context: JPMorgan's Recent Initiatives and Legal Challenges

The lawsuit emerges amid a flurry of other JPMorgan Chase activities. The bank has recently announced partnerships with the WNBPA for financial education, the Independent Restaurant Coalition for $1 million in Innovator Awards, and plans to open more than 160 branches in over 30 states in 2026. It also earned 12 Coalition Greenwich 2026 Awards for U.S. small business banking and became the new issuer of the Apple Card. However, the bank also faces scrutiny over its handling of internal complaints. The Rana case highlights the challenges of investigating allegations when the complainant refuses to cooperate. JPMorgan's spokesperson emphasized that the bank conducted a thorough probe, including reviewing team phone records and emails, but found no evidence.

Open Questions and Next Steps

The lawsuit remains active, with Rana's attorney not responding to requests for comment. The court document's retraction for 'corrections' raises questions about the accuracy of the initial filing. Hajdini's legal team has denied all allegations, and the bank has stated its belief that the claims lack merit. It remains unclear whether Rana will provide additional evidence or participate in further proceedings. The case could proceed in New York County Supreme Court, where it was filed. The outcome may have implications for how JPMorgan and other financial institutions handle internal harassment claims, especially when accusers seek anonymity.

Analysis: A Case That Tests Corporate Accountability

The Rana lawsuit underscores the delicate balance between protecting accusers and ensuring due process for the accused. The bank's investigation, which found no evidence, contrasts sharply with the lurid allegations in the now-retracted court document. The refusal of the complainant to cooperate weakens his case but also raises questions about the thoroughness of internal probes. For JPMorgan, the case arrives at a time when it is expanding its public footprint through community investments and new products. How it navigates this legal challenge could affect its reputation as an employer. The denial by Hajdini and the bank, combined with the lack of evidence, suggests the lawsuit may face an uphill battle in court.

The bottom line

• Chirayu Rana, a former JPMorgan employee, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit under pseudonym John Doe against executive director Lorna Hajdini, alleging drugging and coercion.
• JPMorgan's internal investigation, including review of phone records and emails, found no evidence to support the claims, and Rana refused to participate.
• Hajdini categorically denies the allegations and says she has never been to the location of the alleged assault.
• The court document was retracted for 'corrections' after the Daily Mail published details; Rana's attorney has not commented.
• The lawsuit also names JPMorgan as a defendant, accusing the bank of retaliation and failure to investigate properly.
• The case highlights challenges in handling internal harassment claims when the accuser seeks anonymity and refuses to cooperate.