A senior JPMorgan executive has filed a defamation lawsuit against a former employee who accused her of sexual assault, racial abuse and drugging, escalating a bitter legal dispute that has taken social media by storm.
The dispute stems from allegations made byChirayu Rana, a former employee at the Wall Street bank, who has accusedLorna Hajdiniof treating him like a 'sex slave' while they were colleagues. Those claims are firmly denied by both Hajdini and JPMorgan, who say no evidence of wrongdoing has been found.
The allegations first emerged publicly after Rana raised accusations of serious misconduct during his employment, which he says included sexual assault and racial abuse. The bank conducted an internal review of the claims, which it says did not support his version of events.
Now Hajdini has gone on the offensive legally, filing a countersuit for defamation in which she argues that Rana deliberately fabricated allegations and repeated them over an extended period in order to damage her reputation and exert pressure on both her and the bank.
Hajdini's legal filing is a direct rejection of Rana's allegations. According to court documents reported byThe Sun, she 'categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of unlawful conduct' and describes the claims as 'entirely false, malicious and fabricated.'
Her legal team goes further, alleging that the accusations were not only untrue but intentionally constructed for personal gain. They claim the allegations were 'concocted for the improper purpose of personal enrichment at the expense of defendants and others.'
The countersuit also suggests that Rana's actions formed part of what Hajdini's lawyers describe as a pattern of behaviour, alleging he previously made similar accusations against a supervisor at another workplace. That claim has not been independently verified in court findings.
JPMorgan has publicly backed Hajdini, stating that it does not believe Rana's allegations have merit. The bank says its internal investigation included a review of emails, records and other material, and found no supporting evidence. It also claims Rana did not fully cooperate with the inquiry.
A spokesperson for the bank said it 'fully support[s] Lorna and her right to defend herself and protect her reputation,' adding that the institution had seen no basis for the allegations raised against her.
Rana's allegations include claims that Hajdini sexually assaulted him, racially abused him, and drugged him during their time working together at JPMorgan. These accusations remain unproven in court. Hajdini strongly denies them and says they have caused serious damage to her reputation.
Source: International Business Times UK
