Anonymous Investor Leaves Bregal Sagemount Amid Controversy
Chirayu Rana, the anonymous Wall Street figure known as “John Doe,” has made headlines for filing a contentious sexual harassment lawsuit against top officials at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Recently, executives from Bregal Sagemount confirmed that Rana has departed from the investment firm.
Rana, 35, a school principal by trade, still had his biography listed on the Gene Yoon-led company’s website as of Friday morning. However, it turns out he handed in his resignation on April 2—this took place over three weeks before he leveled accusations against 37-year-old Lorna Hadjidini, claiming she drugged him and kept him as a “sex slave.”
On Thursday night, it was reported that Rana’s identity was revealed by the same newspaper, which, along with allies of esteemed leveraged finance expert Hadjidini, described Rana’s allegations as a “total fabrication.”
Before this revelation, the newspaper sought comments from Bregal Sagemount. Hours later, HR executives confirmed that Rana was no longer part of the company.
“Chirayu Rana was employed by Bregal Sagemount from October 20, 2025, to April 2, 2026. He is no longer an employee,” stated his supervisors. They mentioned that they couldn’t provide more details about his departure.
Interestingly, Rana’s work email account still seems to be active, though a spokesperson for Bregal declined to comment further.
In the wake of these allegations, Rana appears to be trying to erase his online presence, moving to deactivate his LinkedIn and Instagram accounts following the news that he was behind the accusations against Hadjidini.
The explosive court documents, initially filed in New York state court on Monday and subsequently withdrawn for “corrections,” claim that Hadjidini forced Rana to consume Rohypnol and Viagra, threatened him regarding bonuses, and even stalked him at his Manhattan residence.
Concerns regarding these claims seem to unravel quickly. The paper noted that Rana and Hadjidini reported to different managing directors, meaning there was no way for Hadjidini to influence Rana’s compensation.
Rana’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for lost profits, emotional distress, and alleged defamation.
According to a spokesperson from JPMorgan, their internal investigation—which reviewed emails, phone records, and witness testimonials—“found no evidence” supporting the claims made by “John Doe.” The spokesperson added they believed the allegations lacked merit. The complainant’s identity was not disclosed, but it was noted he declined to participate in the investigation.
A source familiar with the situation indicated that Rana attempted to negotiate for a payout amounting to “millions of dollars” from JPMorgan.
Hadjidini’s legal team took a more restrained stance. “Lorna categorically denies the allegations,” her lawyer stated. “She never engaged in any inappropriate behavior towards this individual, and she was never at the location where the alleged incident occurred.”
Supporters of Hadjidini have described the accusations as deeply damaging. “He harmed her with a complete fabrication,” an ally commented.
Rana has had a varied career, working at some of the most esteemed institutions on Wall Street. A Rutgers University graduate and former college basketball player, he joined JPMorgan’s leveraged finance team in spring 2024 after stints at Houlihan Lokey, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, and Carlyle Group.
By May 2025, relationships had soured, prompting Rana to file an internal complaint against JPMorgan alleging racial and gender-based harassment and retaliation.
He later joined Bregal Sagemount, a relatively obscure firm focused on growth, led by Gene Yoon, a Goldman Sachs veteran. There, Rana was involved in drafting and underwriting deals in software, fintech, and healthcare IT before his unexpected resignation last month.
