JODHPUR: The virility of the controversial 72-year-old godman Asaram Bapu surprised the team of three doctors who conducted a potency test on him after he agreed to be subjected to it. Sources, who had details of the potency test on Sunday , said the man accused of molesting a 16-year-old was established to be potent in the first stage of the examination – physical stimulation.

Asaram Bapu had initially objected to the potency test when a team of three doctors approached him at Rajasthan Armed Constabulary headquarters on Sunday. He, however, changed his mind after a few minutes of persuasion and told them that the body was “nashwar” (mortal), so they could do to it whatever they wanted. It took doctors from Jodhpur’s Mathura Das Mathur Hospital about two hours to get the potency test conducted on Asaram.

A doctor said that various steps are taken to carry out a potency test. “One is to cause stimulation of private parts through manual movements. The other is to inject drug stimulators like papaverine,” the doctor said. In Asaram’s case, stimulation of private parts resulted in erection and proved his potency. The doctor said that drugs like papaverine were not used.

Asaram’s consent for the potency test without seeking legal remedy also left both cops and doctors surprised as he could have refused to undergo the test if he wanted. Legal experts said Asaram could have approached a court to get the potency test stayed.

“The medical team arrived at the RAC guesthouse around 5.30pm. To get a potency test conducted, the man undergoing it, especially a 72-year-old, has to be mentally prepared. So initially, Asaram was made to understand the procedure. To clear the test, there has to be erection of his sexual organ,” said a source.

Asaram was allegedly hesitant initially and even asked doctors why they were doing such an “unholy” thing. But he was persuaded by the policemen and doctors to take the test.

The police said Asaram’s testing positive gave them circumstantial medical evidence against the self-proclaimed godman. “Carrying out a potency test was a very natural step for us. The test report has been received by the police from the medical board,” said a police officer.