The Nampally Sessions Court on Monday asked Tollywood actor Mahesh Babu to appear personally in court over the Sreemanthudu copyright case which was filed by  M Sarat Chandra, a novelist. 

The Court also stated that they cannot exempt the superstar from appearing in court, as per the actor's request.

The Court had summoned Mahesh Babu, director Koratala Siva and producer Y Naveen for alleged copyright violation in connection with the film ‘Srimanthudu’ on February 3. 

The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court had directed the trio to appear before it on March 3 in person or through a pleader, according to Deccan Chronicle. 

Earlier in February this year, a petition was filed by writer Sharath Chandra, who alleged that the movie makers copied his novel 'Chachchenta Prema', which he said was published in a magazine in 2012.

Chandra had sought action under the Copyrights Act 'Srimanthudu' movie released in 2015. He had also sought an injunction from city civil court from remaking the same movie  in Hindi