Kamal Ghorui
A high-stakes legal battle involving JPMorgan and a sex scandal has taken a fresh turn, with new details revealing a huge gap between settlements sought and offered before a controversial sexual harassment lawsuit became public.Former JPMorgan banker Chirayu Rana allegedly demanded more than $20 million from the bank before filing his lawsuit accusing senior executive Lorna Hajdini of sexual abuse, according to the sources cited by the New York Post. The demand was made in June last year, months before the case surfaced publicly.“He threatened to go public and asked for millions of dollars,” one source close to the situation told The NYP.According to the Wall Street Journal, JPMorgan later offered Rana $1 million to settle the matter, a figure first reported. The report also stated that Rana’s current lawyer, Daniel J Kaiser, proposed a counteroffer of $11.75 million.The lawsuit was filed in New York County Supreme Court last month under the pseudonym “John Doe.” It contains serious allegations against Hajdini, including claims that she drugged Rana with viagra and forced him into repeated sexual encounters, including racist abuse and humiliating demands. Hajdini and her lawyers have denied all accusations. Hajdini’s colleagues have also described the lawsuit as written “fan fiction” or a “novel”.JPMorgan has also rejected the claims, stating that an internal investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. The bank said it reviewed emails, phone records and witness statements and that Hajdini fully cooperated while Rana did not.Legal experts have weighed in on the dispute. New York lawyer Jason Goldman said: “Presumably, Rana sent a shakedown letter to Hajdini, threatening a public filing unless she bought his silence by paying an exorbitant fee for something she didn’t do. When she refused to succumb, Rana seemingly doubled down and dragged her name and reputation through the mud.”Other than the sexual misconduct claims, there are more layers to the case. According to NYP, Rana told JPMorgan supervisors in December 2024 that his father had died, allowing him to take extended bereavement leave. However, his father was later found to be alive. When contacted, his father said, “I don’t know anything about it. He’s my son. He’s a good guy.”Rana had filed an internal complaint in May 2025, alleging race and gender-based harassment, before leaving the bank. He later joined private equity firm Bregal Sagemount but left the job in early April, weeks before filing the lawsuit.The central claim of the lawsuit has also been challenged by internal company structures. Rana and Hajdini reported to different managers, suggesting she had no authority over his salary or promotions. But Rana’s legal team maintains that the allegations are genuine. His lawyer has said the claims will be supported by evidence as the case progresses.The lawsuit itself includes a series of detailed accusations. Rana claims the alleged harassment began soon after he joined the bank in 2024, including inappropriate physical contact and explicit remarks. He further alleges that Hajdini threatened his career if he did not comply with her demands. He has also accused the bank of retaliation, claiming he was placed on leave after complaining and that his professional reputation was damaged.Rana also says he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the alleged incidents.Moreover, two new witness accounts were reported by the Daily Mail in the high-profile case. In one incident, a witness claimed that Lorna Hajdini, who was naked, asked them to “join them in the bedroom” at a New York apartment. Meanwhile, a second witness said he had heard Chirayu Rana say that Lorna had made his life a “living hell” in the workplace.
