Sheikh Mohsin, 36, grabbed the 45,000-rupee (1,110 dollar) necklace from a businessman’s wife in the eastern city of Kolkata as she shopped for toys on Saturday.

He denied the crime but a stomach X-ray revealed the necklace and police kept him on a diet of bananas, as advised by doctors, in the hope of recovering the necklace.

But when 50 bananas did not do the trick, police fed him a hearty meal that included rice, chicken and local bread, said city police deputy commissioner Gyanwant Singh.

“Police were anxious and Mohsin’s stomach was X-rayed twice during the day. He excreted the necklace in his fifth attempt during the afternoon,” Singh told AFP.

A sweeper was paid 50 rupees (one dollar) to fish out the necklace, he said.

“Mohsin was asked to wash the necklace, which would be shown in court,” Singh said.

A tired Mohsin’s plea for release was rejected and he will appear in court on Monday, Singh said.

“He may face three months’ rigorous imprisonment on the charge of snatching,” Singh added.