NEW JPMorgan building (AP) 640 x 640
JPMorgan Chase & Co. filed its court response to a former vice president's graphic sexual harassment suit against the bank and executive director Lorna Hajdini, calling his claims "false" and "malicious."
JPMorgan on Thursday night filed its formal answer to the April 27 lawsuit. The former banker's claims that Hajdini sexually assaulted him and that he endured racism from her and others in the bank's leveraged finance group have gone viral on social media.
The suit was filed by a John Doe plaintiff, but Bloomberg News and other media have reported that he is Chirayu Rana. JPMorgan and Hajdini are opposing Rana's bid to proceed anonymously as an alleged sexual-assault victim.
The bank "denies that Plaintiff was sexually assaulted, harassed, discriminated or retaliated against," JPMorgan said in its filing. It said it reserved the right to pursue its own claims against Rana over alleged wrongdoing.
A spokesperson for Rana didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. The spokesperson on Wednesday said Rana's allegations are true and would be proven in court.
JPMorgan has previously denied Rana's claims in public statements, saying they were the subject of an internal investigation that found they had no merit. Bloomberg News has previously reported that the bank offered him a $1 million settlement, which he rejected.
Hajdini countersued Rana for defamation on Tuesday, "categorically and unequivocally" denying his claims and saying they have "ruined her reputation and destroyed her life."
The case is Doe v. JPMorgan Chase, 155620/2026, New York State Supreme Court, New York Co. (Manhattan).
Credit: AP
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.