Kamal Ghorui
A former JPMorgan staffer described as “socially awkward” has been accused of making fabricated sexual harassment allegations against a “top performer” senior executive, as fresh details emerge in a high-profile legal battle shaking the bank.Indian-oirign Chirayu Rana, a 35-year-old former analyst who is now a principal at investment firm Bregal Sagemount, has been identified as the man behind a lawsuit filed under the pseudonym John Doe. The case targets 37-year-old executive director Lorna Hajdini, a leveraged finance banker at JPMorgan.Rana’s complaint was filed on Monday in New York County Supreme Court and contains explosive allegations. It claims Hajdini turned him into her “sex slave” by drugging him with Rohypnol and Viagra and threatening to cut his bonus unless he complied. The filing also alleges she visited his apartment uninvited and forced him into sexual acts.However, The Daily Mail reported that parts of the court filing were later withdrawn for “corrections”, and JPMorgan has rejected all accusations.Hajdini has also denied the claims. Her lawyers said: “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.”JPMorgan’s internal review, carried out by HR and in-house legal teams, found no evidence supporting Rana’s allegations, according to sourcec cited by the New York Post. The probe included checks of emails and team phone records.“Following an investigation, we don’t believe there’s any merit to these claims,” a bank spokesperson said.They added: “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 accuser and accused worked under different managers
It has also emerged that Rana and Hajdini did not have a reporting line relationship. They were colleagues on the leveraged finance team, but worked under different managers. Hajdini reported to managing director Brandon Graffeo, while Rana was supervised by Jon Wolter. This job structure meant she had no control over Rana’s bonus.Colleagues have described Rana as “socially awkward” but competent enough to remain in the bank. He is a former Rutgers basketball player with a career spanning Houlihan Lokey, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley and the Carlyle Group,Hajdini is regarded within JPMorgan as a strong performer. Friends and colleagues said she is considered “a top performer” on the leveraged finance team. Outside work, her LinkedIn profile shows she is an NYU Stern graduate and volunteers with Minds Matter, a non-profit supporting disadvantaged students.Rana also allegedly filed an internal complaint at JPMorgan Chase in May 2025, raising claims of race- and gender-based harassment, before attempting to negotiate a multimillion exit package, according to sources cited by the New York Post.
