Ms Kayi now admits she is not married and says she was suffering from hallucinations when she gave her first statement, a police official added.

In a statement, police also said that Ms Kayi was distressed because her visa had run out and she was running out of money.

“This was not an isolated incident,” it said. “The woman had chained herself to a tree in Tamil Nadu, where she lived before relocating to Goa.”

Ms Kayi is being held in a hospital’s psychiatric ward. The police said that because of her mental illness, Ms Kayi was not in control of her actions.

Woman still weak, but improving

After she was found on July 7, by a cattle herder who had taken his animals to graze in the forest, officers were doubtful of her claim that she had gone without food and water for 40 days.

They said it was unlikely that someone would survive without food or water for so long.

Dr Sanghamitra Phule, the superintendent of the hospital where Ms Kayi is being treated, told The Telegraph: “Her condition is improving and she is oriented. She has given a statement to the police as well that she had a psychiatric disorder, and hallucination is part of that. She was hallucinating.

“She herself said that she was getting treatment for her disorder. We had to take the history, like how long she had been suffering. She speaks very nicely and she is completely conscious. She understands what is going on around her.

“Physically she is still weak, but she is having her food. Now she is taking a solid diet.”