Key facts
- A former JPMorgan Chase banker, Chirayu Rana, has expanded his lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and racism.
- Rana claims racism was ingrained in his team, with colleagues making degrading jokes and suggesting he transact in rupees.
- He accuses a JPMorgan executive director of coercing him into sex and demanding submissiveness for career advancement.
- New defendants include JPMorgan managing directors Brandon Graffeo and Jon Wolter, and associate Kelly Crowe.
- The lawsuit alleges Rana's career has been destroyed and his reputation ruined as a result of the misconduct.
- JPMorgan maintains that Rana's allegations are meritless.
A former JPMorgan Chase banker, Chirayu Rana, has significantly expanded his lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and racism, adding new defendants and asserting that the bank's pervasive culture of discrimination has irrevocably destroyed his career. Rana, who is of Nepali descent, claims he was subjected to a stream of degrading jokes and racial slurs by his all-white leveraged finance team, including being called a "monkey" and "brown boy."
In an 82-page complaint filed in Manhattan federal court, Rana also renewed allegations against JPMorgan executive director Lorna Hajdini, accusing her of coercing him into sex and demanding his submissiveness as a condition for career advancement. He stated that Hajdini repeatedly told him she "owned" him. Rana, who was once a leading deal originator earning over $2 million annually, claims he has been "effectively blackballed" and that his professional relationships have been shattered, with his career reduced to "rubble"—an outcome he asserts was the intended result of the defendants' misconduct.
JPMorgan has previously stated that it believes Rana's allegations are meritless. The bank and its lawyers had no immediate comment on the expanded lawsuit. Hajdini has also denied Rana's claims and countersued him for defamation, alleging his lies have caused significant disruption to her life.
The updated complaint introduces three new defendants: JPMorgan managing directors Brandon Graffeo and Jon Wolter, and associate Kelly Crowe. Rana alleges Graffeo "led" his degradation and that Graffeo and Wolter actively worked to poison his reputation within the private credit and leveraged finance industry after his resignation. Crowe is accused of calling him "brown boy" and an "HR liability."
Rana's lawsuit, which includes 21 counts, seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, front and back pay, and other remedies for alleged violations of federal civil rights laws, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and New York state and city human rights laws. Claims include sexual and racial discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation, and sexual assault against Hajdini. Rana's lawyer, Jon Norinsberg, stated that they intend to hold the defendants fully accountable for the catastrophic harm caused to Rana's career, reputation, and life.