A high-stakes legal battle involving JPMorgan and a sex scandal has taken a new turn, as new details reveal a wide gap between settlements requested and offered before a controversial sexual harassment lawsuit becomes public.Former JPMorgan banker Shirayu Rana allegedly demanded more than $20 million from the bank before filing his lawsuit accusing top executive Lorna Hajdini of sexual assault, according to sources cited by the New York Post. The application was made in June last year, months before the case came to light.“He threatened to go public and demand millions of dollars,” a source close to the situation told the New York Times.According to the Wall Street Journal, JPMorgan later offered Rana $1 million to settle the matter, as first reported in this issue. The report also stated that Rana’s current attorney, Daniel J. Kaiser, proposed a counteroffer of $11.75 million.The lawsuit was filed in New York County Supreme Court last month under the alias “John Doe.” It includes serious allegations against Haydini, including allegations that she drugged Rana with Viagra and forced him into repeated sexual encounters, including racist abuse and humiliating demands.
Hajdini and her lawyers have denied all accusations. Heidney’s colleagues also described the lawsuit as written “fan fiction” or “novelization.”JP Morgan also rejected the allegations, stating that an internal investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. The bank said it reviewed emails, phone records and witness statements, and that Haydini cooperated fully while Rana did not.Legal experts weighed in on this dispute. “Rana allegedly sent a blackmail letter to Heidini, threatening to file a public lawsuit unless she bought his silence by paying exorbitant fees for something she did not do,” New York attorney Jason Goldman said.
When she refused to give up, Rana seemed to redouble her efforts and drag her name and reputation through the mud.Beyond the sexual misconduct allegations, there are more layers to this case. According to NYP, Rana told JPMorgan supervisors in December 2024 that his father had died, allowing him to take extended bereavement leave. However, it is later revealed that his father is alive. When his father was contacted, he said: “I don’t know anything about that.
He is my son. He’s a good guy.Rana had filed an internal complaint in May 2025, alleging racial and gender harassment, before she left the bank. He later joined private equity firm Bregal Sagemount, but left the job in early April, weeks before the lawsuit was filed.The central claim of the lawsuit has also been challenged by internal company structures. Rana and Hajdini reported to different managers, suggesting she had no authority over his salary or promotions.
But Rana’s legal team confirms that these allegations are true. His lawyer said that these allegations will be supported by evidence as the case progresses.The lawsuit itself includes a series of detailed accusations. Rana alleges the alleged harassment began shortly after he joined the bank in 2024, including inappropriate physical contact and explicit remarks. He further claims that Heidini threatened his career if he did not comply with her demands.
He also accused the bank of retaliation, claiming that he was placed on leave after filing a complaint and that his professional reputation was damaged.Rana also says he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the alleged incidents.Furthermore, the Daily Mail published two new testimonies in the high-profile case. In one incident, a witness claimed that Lorna Haydeny, who was naked, asked them to “join them in the bedroom” in a New York apartment. Meanwhile, a second witness said he heard Shirayu Rana say Lorna had turned his life into a “living hell” in the workplace.
