The accused, who hails from Chennai, landed at the international airport here from Malaysia on December 24 and was detained and questioned by the customs officials on suspicion that he was smuggling gold.
He denied it but later he complained of stomach pain and was admitted to a government hospital here.
Doctors found that he had swallowed 12 gold pellets weighing altogether 250 grams.
He was not arrested as the amount of contraband did not exceed the stipulated limit, authorities said.