Former JPMorgan Executive Alleges Racism, Sexual Abuse, Retaliation

Former JPMorgan Chase & Co. executive Chirayu Rana has filed a federal civil rights complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint names JPMorgan Chase & Co., Executive Director Lorna Hajdini, and Managing Directors Brandon Graffeo and Jon Wolter as defendants, alleging pervasive racial discrimination, sexual coercion, and a sustained campaign of retaliation.

Rana, who is described in the lawsuit as the highest-producing originator on JPMorgan's Leveraged Finance team and its only non-white, non-Christian banker, claims he was repeatedly subjected to racialized harassment. According to the allegations, colleagues and supervisors referred to him with derogatory terms such as "Brown Boy," "Brownie," "boy," and "monkey," mocked his Nepali heritage, and reduced his role to a function of the bank's internal "point system."

The lawsuit further alleges that defendant Hajdini misused her supervisory authority over Rana's assignments, evaluations, compensation, and advancement to subject him to repeated and unwanted sexual conduct and coerced sexual acts. Hajdini is accused of threatening to sabotage his career if he resisted.

Rana formally reported the alleged discrimination and sexual abuse in May 2025. Within weeks, he was removed from the workplace, had his access to systems and building revoked, his pay cut, and was placed on indefinite involuntary leave. The complaint also alleges that JPMorgan failed to conduct a meaningful investigation into anonymous racial threats received by Rana and his family.

The complaint is supported by preserved communications, recorded conversations, sworn witness accounts, and evidence gathered during an extensive pre-suit investigation. It expands upon claims originally brought in state court, adding new federal causes of action and individual defendants.