Former JPMorgan banker Chirayu Rana suffered a significant legal setback as his attorney abruptly withdrew just hours before a crucial court hearing. Attorney Daniel Kaiser, who previously represented Jeffrey Epstein accusers including Jennifer Araoz, filed a consent to be "discharged" as Rana's lawyer mere hours before the two were due to appear in court. The filing revealed that Rana has no replacement lawyer lined up, meaning he would represent himself, known legally as appearing "pro se," until he secures new counsel. As reported by The New York Post, the surprise filing comes ahead of an afternoon courtroom appearance where Rana was supposed to argue for his client's right to be officially known only as "John Doe" in the court docket.
Rana's case, which was filed on April 27, 2026, in New York County Supreme Court, accuses JPMorgan executive director Lorna Hajdini, 37, of drugging him, subjecting him to racial abuse and coercing him into what the lawsuit describes as non-consensual sexual acts over a period of months. According to reports, these allegations have been categorically denied by Hajdini, who has countersued Rana for defamation. Her lawyers have accused him of "peddling lies," calling the accusations entirely fabricated and driven by a desire for financial gain. Kaiser had previously defended Rana's claims, even once stating that The New York Post would be "embarrassed" by its reporting on the scandal once all evidence is revealed. In his original April lawsuit, the former VP alleged that Hajdini drugged him and forced him into non-consensual sex by threatening his bonus, claiming she said she "owned" him and insulted him with racial slurs, allegedly saying: "I bet your little Asian, fish head, wife doesn't have these cannons."
JPMorgan Chase, also named in the suit, has said the claims have no merit. The bank had reportedly offered Rana a $1 million settlement in March 2026, which he declined, instead demanding $11.75 million. A JP Morgan spokesperson declined to comment on Rana's latest legal headache, but reiterated that the firm has no intention of settling the matter, noting that the bank has maintained from the outset that the allegations are without merit. The bank has backed Hajdini throughout the proceedings, saying, "We fully support Lorna and her right to defend herself and protect her reputation. As we have said from the outset, we don't believe the allegations against her or the firm have merit."
Kaiser is a prominent attorney who previously represented accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. His abrupt departure, without a detailed public explanation, has added fresh uncertainty to a case that has gripped Wall Street since it was first filed. The timing of Kaiser's withdrawal, just hours before the court hearing, has raised questions about the case's future legal representation and potential impact on the proceedings. Kaiser represented several Epstein accusers, including Jennifer Araoz, 38, a New York woman who said the deceased sex trafficker groomed her for sex when she was 14 years old. Hajdini has also changed lawyers and is now being represented by Samuel S Shaulson of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP, who previously represented Morgan Stanley in a 2018 case involving discrimination allegations.
