JPMorgan Chase urged a Manhattan federal court to dismiss a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former investment banker Chirayu Rana, accusing him of orchestrating a false testimony scheme involving his sister and a friend. The bank’s October 2026 filing seeks severe sanctions and legal costs against the plaintiff.
The high-profile legal battle surrounding Wall Street’s leveraged finance team took a sharp turn when JPMorgan Chase urged a federal judge to throw out the discrimination and harassment claims brought by its former employee. The institution argued that Chirayu Rana fabricated his accusations and enlisted relatives to manufacture corroborating evidence. Rana left JPMorgan after 1-1/2 years on the job last October, later moving to private equity firm Bregal Sagemount, which cut ties with him in April after less than six months on the job over performance concerns.
Rana Persuaded Witnesses to Provide False Statements
According to court filings submitted in Manhattan federal court, Rana persuaded his sister, Chandani Rana, and acquaintance Allan Flott to provide false sworn statements supporting his claims of misconduct against executive director Lorna Hajdini.
The situation shifted when Chandani Rana appeared to recant her statements. JPMorgan stated that Flott had not recanted his claims but was also led astray by her brother.
My brother asked me to speak with his attorney. He told me what to say and wrote it down for me beforehand. He was in the room during my conversation with the attorney, and he passed me written notes and whispered to me about what to say.
Chandani Rana, via Fortune
Multiple Lawyers Withdraw from Representing Rana
As the defense pushes for the most serious sanction available
under the law, Rana’s legal team has experienced severe attrition. Jon Norinsberg of Joseph & Norinsberg LLC filed an October 14 document citing irreconcilable differences
that render it unreasonably difficult to continue representing Rana. Two other lawyers who joined Rana’s case on October 22 sought to withdraw one day later, stating that new information materially changed their understanding of the case.
Previous attorney Daniel Kaiser of Kaiser, Saurborn & Mair had also sought to withdraw earlier in May.
Hajdini Seeks Damages for Fraudulent Litigation
In separate proceedings reported by TMZ, Hajdini described enduring ongoing stress and negative public exposure throughout the court battle, stating she cannot walk down the street normally and is in therapy while waiting to clear her name.
Attorneys representing the defendants are asking the court to bring an end to what they characterize as fraudulent litigation while demanding that Rana cover all incurred legal expenses.
No order can fully restore Ms. Hajdini’s reputation or undo what she has suffered,” Hajdini’s lawyer Melissa Rodriguez said in a court filing. “But the court can put an end to this fraudulent litigation, hold those responsible accountable, and put an end to Ms. Hajdini’s ongoing nightmare.
Melissa Rodriguez, lawyer for Lorna Hajdini
The court must now determine whether to grant the requested sanctions and bring a final resolution to the legal disputes surrounding the case.