Mysuru, Apr 3 (DHNS): High drama was witnessed for eight hours on Saturday, when a 55-year-old man climbed a coconut tree in a park, alleging torture by his wife. When nobody could convince Venkatesh, his elder sister succeeded in making him alight.

The man, identified as Venkatesh, a resident of T K Layout, is a tender coconut plucker. He was found on the tree at the park on fourth main, third cross (behind JSS Women’s College), Saraswatipuram at 11 am.

Venkatesh, in a loud voice, blaming his wife for repeatedly torturing him for property, set a condition for Saraswatipuram police inspector K C Poovaiah to bring his favourite actor-turned-minister M H Ambareesh to the spot, for him to climb down.

When nothing could pacify him, his elder sister Puttamahadevamma, who came there, succeeded in convincing him. The police took him to the station along with his wife and sister in an autorickshaw.

Venkatesh was booked under Section 92 of the Karnataka Police Act for creating public nuisance, before being let off with a warning not to repeat it.

Earlier, as news spread, curious people gathered in and outside the park. Venkatesh, who seemed to be at comfort, plucked tender coconut at intervals, chopped them with a machete and gulped the coconut water. The police were cautious in their efforts to bring him down as an electricity line passed below the fronds.

Venkatesh said that he had transferred his properties in the name of his wife Susheelamma, yet his problems continue. Susheelamma, who was at the spot, denied the charges. She said he had climbed a tree on March 18, 1993, demanding that Ambareesh should come to the spot. The actor, who was shooting near the city then, had obliged. He had gifted Venkatesh Rs 500, recalled an autorickshaw driver.