Published Oct 22, 2026 | 7:52 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 22, 2026 | 7:52 PM
Harish had referred to the contents and tone of Samuel's October 18 video and alleged that his statements were threatening.
YouTuber Jason Samuel Vijayakumar has been arrested in connection with the death by suicide of financial influencer Harish, who allegedly faced threats, extortion attempts and defamatory content on social media.
According to a press release issued by the Tambaram City Police on October 22, Harish, 27, son of Vinayagam from Puducherry, was residing in a rented house on Nagathamman Street, Redit Beach, Kanathur. He ran a YouTube channel named Finance with Harish, through which he shared financial advice, and had approximately 1.3 million followers.
Police said another YouTube personality, Jason Samuel Vijayakumar, allegedly attempted to extort money from Harish and uploaded defamatory videos about him on social media. Harish’s social media account was reportedly suspended, following which he allegedly experienced mental distress.
Harish died by suicide at his residence on October 20, 2026.
Based on a complaint lodged by Harish’s father, the Kanathur police registered a case (Cr. No. 167/2026) under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated an investigation.
During the investigation, the police said witness statements and documentary evidence established Jason Samuel’s alleged role in Harish’s death.
Jason Samuel Vijayakumar, 30, son of George Lambert, was arrested and is to be produced before the jurisdictional magistrate for remand to judicial custody, the press release stated.
In a video that surfaced after his death, Harish had referred to the contents and tone of Samuel’s October 18 video and alleged that his statements were threatening. Harish claimed that he was told further videos would be released if he did not agree to the alleged demand for money.
Harish also spoke about the loss of his social media accounts and the impact of the controversy on his work.
He alleged that Meta blocked his Instagram account in September following a coordinated mass-reporting campaign. The account had over 1.3 million followers, and he claimed that the suspension severely affected his five-year content creation career.
In the recording, Harish said that criticism of his work was something he was prepared to address, but alleged that the dispute had gone beyond questioning his professional credentials.
He also spoke about the effect of the controversy on his family and personal relationships, describing the distress he was experiencing amid the public criticism.
(If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Call India’s Tele-MANAS mental health helpline at 14416 for free, 24/7 support.)
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose. Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
