Quick Summary: On January 21, 2026, the Madras High Court changed the bail conditions for M. Senthilkumar, who is involved in a loan fraud case with the CBI. The bail amount was lowered from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 5,000 because of his financial situation.
M. Senthilkumar, who earns a daily wage in Chennai, got into trouble when he was accused of being involved in a loan scam. The case, brought by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), goes back to 2017. Senthilkumar was said to have worked with a bank manager and a broker to get a loan of Rs. 5,00,000 using fake documents.
On November 18, 2025, Senthilkumar was told to appear before the XI Additional Special Judge for CBI Cases in Chennai. He had to pay a bail amount of Rs. 20,000 with two people to vouch for him. The court required original Fixed Deposit Receipts from these guarantors, which was difficult for Senthilkumar, who didn't have close family to support him.
Senthilkumar, with the help of his lawyer, Mr. R. Krishnamurthy, argued that the bail amount was too high for someone with his limited income. He promised to cooperate with the court and pointed out that he hadn't run away since the case was filed in 2017. His lawyer asked for a lower bail amount, stressing Senthilkumar's permanent address and his promise to attend all court hearings.
The CBI, represented by Special Public Prosecutor Mr. K. Srinivasan, was mainly worried about making sure Senthilkumar would show up for the trial. They pointed out the seriousness of the scam, where public money was taken through a plan involving fake claims and false documents.
Judge Mr. Justice M. Nirmal Kumar was in charge of the case. Taking into account Senthilkumar's financial difficulties and his cooperation with the investigation, the court decided to change the bail conditions. The new requirement was set at Rs. 5,000, still with two guarantors.
"The petitioner shall execute a bond for a sum of Rs.5,000/- with two sureties each for a like sum."
This decision was made on January 21, 2026, and the order was issued the same day, providing some relief to Senthilkumar as he faces his legal challenges.
