JPMorgan Lawsuit Reveals Contentious Harassment Claims

A new JPMorgan lawsuit details explosive allegations of sexual assault and racial discrimination from a former investment banker against the financial giant.

The suit, filed in New York state court by Chirayu Rana, alleges he was sexually assaulted on multiple occasions by a senior female colleague and subjected to racial harassment by coworkers.

Allegations and Denials

Rana began working in JPMorgan’s leveraged finance division in May 2024 as a senior vice president. According to court documents, he filed an internal complaint with the bank’s human resources department one year later, in May 2025, outlining his claims.

The complaint detailed accusations of race-based harassment related to his Nepalese background and repeated sexual assault by a colleague, Lorna Hajdini. Following the internal complaint, Rana was placed on paid leave while the bank initiated an investigation.

JPMorgan has publicly stated it believes the allegations are without merit. The bank asserts that asourceser an extensive internal review involving multiple employees, it could not corroborate the claims and that Rana was uncooperative with the investigation.

Lawyers for Hajdini have also issued a forceful denial, stating the allegations are fabricated and that no sexual relationship ever existed between their client and Rana.

Failed Negotiations and Legal Escalation

Before the lawsuit became public, the parties engaged in weeks of mediation talks in early 2026. In March, JPMorgan reportedly offered Rana a $1 million settlement. This offer, equivalent to less than two years of his compensation, was intended to avoid a costly and public legal battle.

Rana did not accept the offer. Instead, he filed a discrimination complaint against the bank with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) at the end of March.

In April 2026, Rana’s legal team presented a counter-demand for $11.75 million to settle the dispute. The failure to reach an agreement ultimately led to the filing of the lawsuit.

Rana lesources JPMorgan in October 2025 and took a position at private-equity firm Bregal Sagemount. He was let go from this new role in early April 2026, shortly asourceser the settlement negotiations with JPMorgan intensified. Bregal Sagemount stated it was unaware of any complaints Rana had filed against former employers during his time at the firm.

Public Spectacle and Lawsuit Status

The case has captivated Wall Street and beyond, fueled by media reports and social media speculation. AI-generated videos depicting scenes described in the lawsuit have circulated widely on platforms like X and Instagram, amplifying the public's interest.

The lawsuit was initially filed under a pseudonym, “John Doe,” and was temporarily removed from the court docket, raising questions about its status. However, Rana’s lawyer, Daniel Kaiser, clarified that the removal was a procedural step for a judge to approve the use of a pseudonym before the suit was formally refiled on Monday.

The corrected version of the suit is substantially the same and includes affidavits from two witnesses, whose names are redacted, who claim they observed Rana and Hajdini in a romantic context. The legal proceedings are now set to move forward in the New York court system.