File photo of actor Mohan Babu
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has asked Telugu film actors Mohan Babu and Brahmanandam to return their Padma Shri awards for misusing the honorary title.
The court, hearing a petition filed by BJP leader N Indrasena Reddy, took serious note of the actors prefixing Padma Shri to their names in the credits for a movie.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyothy Sengupta and Justice P Sanjay Kumar observed that Mohan Babu and Brahmanandam should have surrendered the awards gracefully.
Mohan Babu and Brahmanandam were awarded Padma Shri in 2007 and 2009.
The controversy erupted when "Padma Shri" was prefixed to the names of these actors in the credits of the controversial film
Denikina Ready (2012), produced by Mohan Babu's son Manchu Vishnu who also played a lead role in it.
"The award does not amount to a title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the winner's name on letterheads, invitation cards, posters and books among others," Mr Reddy told reporters.
The matter is posted for further hearing on December 30.