The suicide of 27-year-old financial influencer V Harish on Tuesday has triggered a massive controversy on social media, after his last video raised allegations against tech firm CEO Jason Samuel. Harish, who operated the Instagram account ‘Finance With Harish ’, was found hanging at his rented villa in Chennai.
Harish had over 1.3 million followers and was a well-known figure in Tamil Nadu’s content creator community. His videos covered money tips, investing and personal finance. He reportedly lived in Muttukadi, on the outskirts of Chennai.
However, Meta suspended Harish’s Instagram account around October 12 after Samuel posted a video criticising him. Samuel is the CEO of a venture studio, Zemuria Inc and a popular YouTuber known for exposing other creators. In the video, Samuel alleged that Harish gave investment advice without being a SEBI-registered Investment Advisor (RIA) or AMFI licensee.
Harish’s father, Vinayagan, flagged this video, alleging that Jason posted a “defamatory video” against his son, which resulted in cyberbullying. He added that the pressure and accusations forced Harish to take his own life.
Samuel responded to the news of the suicide, saying, “I was only pointing out the illegal activity of him violating SEBI and AMFI rules and providing financial advice to the public with a fake license, in the interest of consumers. Pointing out a scam does not incite suicide.”
However, a video circulating online reportedly shows Harish’s last message, in which he raises extortion allegations against an unidentified individual.
What did Harish’s last video say?
In the video, Harish says that he is ready to face criticism, but that he lost all the hard work he put in over the last five years, possibly referring to Meta banning his accounts. “If you find any mistakes in me, you can question me, and I am ready to respond. But my five years of hard work have been stolen," he said.
He further alleged he faced threats from somebody, who allegedly said, “Your family lives in Puducherry, right? Do you know the connections I have in Puducherry? I know MLAs, ministers, and even the chief minister.”
Without naming anyone, Harish said that the individual threatened his family and demanded money in return. 'Where will you go without paying me?" he allegedly said.
"I don't know what to do. He created a situation in which I felt that other people were getting a bad name because of me," Harish continued.
"I felt guilty even when I met my friends. He mentally harassed me by saying that if the Income Tax Department imposed a penalty, I would have to pay a 60 per cent penalty and could even face imprisonment."
The “harasser” threatened to damage his reputation, claiming they were capable of releasing part 2 and part 3 videos if they didn’t receive the payment.
As per reports, the police have filed a case of abetment to suicide against Jason.
