Ex-JPMorgan banker dealt major blow in ‘sex slave’ lawsuit

Ex-JPMorgan banker Chirayu Rana’s attorney, Daniel Kaiser, has been granted permission to withdraw from representing his client in the explosive sex-assault lawsuit against his former employer. The decision was made during a brief hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court, where Kaiser was absent.

Kaiser, who has previously represented Jeffrey Epstein accusers, initially requested to withdraw from the case in late May for reasons that remain undisclosed. However, the judge also ordered Kaiser to disclose any false statements made by Rana in his lawsuit, which accused his JP Morgan manager, Lorna Hajdini, of sexually abusing him.

JPMorgan and Hajdini have vehemently denied the allegations, referring to them as fabrications. Despite this, Rana’s lawsuit gained widespread attention after it was filed in April, detailing explicit accounts of how Hajdini allegedly drugged him to make him her sex slave after he joined her team in 2024.

The lawsuit included graphic descriptions of Rana being coerced into unwanted sexual encounters with Hajdini, both in the office and at his apartment. Rana claimed he complied out of fear for his career and alleged that Hajdini threatened to ruin his professional reputation if he refused her advances.

In response to the lawsuit, JPMorgan’s legal team sought Kaiser’s withdrawal with the condition that he disclose any false evidence presented in the defense docket. They pointed out discrepancies in Rana’s claims, such as misrepresenting his mother’s business and revealing confidential settlement negotiations with the bank.

Rana later decided to retract the lawsuit in June, citing the omission of federal violations like race discrimination and retaliation. His new legal team intends to refile the case in federal court, a move contested by Hajdini and JPMorgan.

As the legal battle continues, the allegations and denials surrounding Rana’s lawsuit have sparked intense scrutiny and public discussion. The outcome of this high-profile case remains uncertain as the parties involved navigate the complexities of the legal system.