Hyderabad: A city court has issued summons to Tollywood actor Mahesh Babu, director Koratala Siva and producer Y Naveen for alleged copyright violation in connection with the film 'Srimanthudu'.

In the summons issued on February 3, the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court directed the trio to appear before it on March 3 in person or through a pleader.

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.