Ex-JPMorgan Banker Sues Executive Director for Sexual Harassment
Chirayu Rana, 35, sued Lorna Hajdini, 37, in New York County Supreme Court in late April 2026 under the pseudonym John Doe. He accused her of drugging him and forcing repeated sexual encounters. JPMorgan and Manhattan prosecutors found no evidence to support the claims after separate investigations.
Substrate placeholder — needs review · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Chirayu Rana, a 35-year-old former JPMorgan banker, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court in late April 2026 under the pseudonym John Doe. He accused Lorna Hajdini, a 37-year-old executive director at the bank, of drugging him and forcing him into repeated sexual encounters.
The filing came after Rana had sought a settlement from JPMorgan worth north of $20 million in June 2025.
JPMorgan offered Rana $1 million to settle the matter in April 2026. His attorney Daniel J. 75 million. An internal JPMorgan investigation conducted prior to June 2025 reviewed emails, phone records, witness statements and devices and found no evidence of wrongdoing by Hajdini.
Hajdini cooperated fully with that review while Rana did not. The bank has stated that Rana’s claims are entirely fabricated. Rana told JPMorgan supervisors in mid-December 2024 that his father had died.
He used bereavement leave and paid time off to take nearly three months away from work. 75 million home in Vienna, Virginia. In May 2025 Rana filed an internal complaint at JPMorgan alleging race- and gender-based harassment.
He left the bank shortly afterward and joined private equity firm Bregal Sagemount, departing that role on April 2, 2026. Rana and Hajdini reported to two different managing directors at JPMorgan, so she had no authority over his pay or promotions. Hajdini’s lawyers stated that she has never been to the location where the alleged sexual assault supposedly took place.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office launched a criminal investigation into Rana’s claims against Hajdini in summer 2025. Prosecutors found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Hajdini and closed the probe. The office referred Rana for mental health treatment under its victim support services.
Rana holds a degree from Rutgers University. His prior roles included positions at Houlihan Lokey, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, the Carlyle Group and MidCap Financial, where he was managed out after six months over performance concerns. He joined JPMorgan’s leveraged finance team in spring 2024.
Rana was represented by attorney Gregory Chiarello during the June 2025 settlement discussions.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
7 events- Late April 2026
Chirayu Rana filed sexual harassment lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court under pseudonym John Doe accusing Lorna Hajdini of drugging and forcing sexual encounters
2 sourcescourt records · New York Post - April 2026
JPMorgan offered Chirayu Rana $1 million to settle; his attorney Daniel J. Kaiser countered with $11.75 million demand
2 sourcesWall Street Journal · New York Post - April 2, 2026
Chirayu Rana departed Bregal Sagemount
1 sourceNew York Post - Summer 2025
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office launched criminal investigation into Rana’s claims; found no evidence and closed probe, referring Rana for mental health treatment
2 sourcessource familiar with the case · New York Post - June 2025
Chirayu Rana sought settlement from JPMorgan worth north of $20 million; internal investigation found nothing to support claims
2 sourcessources familiar with the matter · New York Post - May 2025
Chirayu Rana filed internal complaint at JPMorgan alleging race- and gender-based harassment then left for Bregal Sagemount
1 sourceNew York Post - Mid-December 2024
Chirayu Rana told supervisors his father had died and took nearly three months of bereavement and paid leave; father Chaitanya Rana is alive
2 sourcessources · New York Post
Potential Impact
- 01
JPMorgan faces ongoing civil litigation from former employee despite internal clearance of accused executive
- 02
Chirayu Rana’s credibility questioned after documented false statements to employer and lack of cooperation with probes
- 03
Lorna Hajdini’s professional reputation affected by public allegations later undermined by two official investigations
Transparency Panel
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