Published Oct 21, 2026 | 6:01 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 21, 2026 | 6:01 PM
Harish alleged that Samuel had threatened and cyberbullied him and demanded money.
Synopsis: Police have registered an abetment to suicide case following the death of content creator V. Harish. His family has alleged online harassment and threats by fellow creator Jason Samuel, who denies the allegations. Police are investigating the circumstances and may name additional suspects.
The Tambaram police have added a charge of abetment to suicide to the case concerning the suspected suicide of popular content creator V. Harish. The development came on Wednesday, October 21, amid allegations by Harish’s family that he had been subjected to online harassment by a fellow content creator.
Harish (27), who had built a substantial following on Instagram and YouTube through videos on personal finance and investments on his handle ‘Finance With Harish’, was found dead on October 20 at a rented villa near Muttukadu, on the outskirts of Chennai.
His death came amid a public dispute over his financial advisory credentials, following a video posted by fellow content creator Jason Samuel on October 18.
The over one-hour-long video questioned Harish’s credentials and his activities in the financial advisory space.
In a video and audio recording made before his death, Harish alleged that Samuel had threatened and cyberbullied him and demanded money to stop publishing further content ‘exposing’ him. Harish’s family also repeated the allegations, claiming that Samuel’s online criticism had caused him severe mental distress.
Samuel has denied the allegations, maintaining that his criticism concerned Harish’s financial advisory credentials and regulatory compliance.
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In his video, Harish referred to the contents and tone of Samuel’s October 18 video and alleged that his statements were threatening. Harish claimed that he had been threatened that 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.
Harish 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.
Harish further alleged that he had been threatened with consequences involving the Income Tax Department. He claimed that the pressure had extended beyond criticism of his financial content.
When contacted by South First following Harish’s death, Samuel said he was shocked and was not in the right state of mind to respond immediately.
“I am in shock and not in the right state of mind right now,” he said.
Samuel referred to his recent posts on X and said they should be treated as his official comment on the incident.
In his posts, Samuel expressed shock and sadness over Harish’s death and denied cyberbullying him. He maintained that his video had focused on Harish’s financial advisory credentials, alleged misrepresentation of licences and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Samuel questioned whether Harish held the necessary registration to provide the financial services in question. He also raised concerns about Harish’s claims regarding his association with the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
He denied the allegations made against him and maintained that his concerns were related to Harish’s financial activities.
The controversy centres on the distinction between creating financial content, distributing mutual funds and providing personalised investment advice.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) regulates investment advisers. Depending on the nature of the services provided, a person offering personalised investment advice may be required to register as a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA).
The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), meanwhile, issues registration numbers to mutual fund distributors. An AMFI Registration Number (ARN) is not the same as a SEBI RIA registration.
Samuel questioned Harish’s credentials and alleged that he was providing financial advice without the required authorisation. He also raised questions about Harish’s AMFI credentials.
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The case was registered on October 20, based on the complaint filed by Harish’s father, J Vinayagam.
In his complaint, Vinayagam named Samuel and alleged that “online harassment” contributed to his son’s death. The complaint reportedly referred to the videos and posts questioning Harish’s financial advisory credentials, alleged threats and the resulting mental distress.
Vinayagam has sought an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the controversy, including the blocking of Harish’s social media accounts and the video recorded before his death.
Kanathur police initially registered a case of suspicious or unnatural death and began investigating the circumstances. Later, Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), dealing with abetment to suicide, was added.
According to the latest information from the Tambaram police, two or three additional people may be included in the case following further inquiry. Their identities and the nature of their alleged involvement have not yet been established publicly.
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.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
