Paris Investigation Clears BAPS of Explicit Exclusion Request
A thorough investigation in Paris has concluded that the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) delegation did not explicitly ask for female employees to be excluded during their private visit to the Eiffel Tower. The findings come weeks after reports of women staff being moved from their positions sparked protests and a temporary closure of the iconic landmark.
The General Inspectorate of the City of Paris, which conducted the probe, attributed the controversy to a "chain of errors in judgement, approval and execution." According to findings reported by Le Parisien, the investigation found "no explicit request from the delegation to exclude women throughout the route."
How the Message Was Distorted
The investigation revealed that the original communication to the Eiffel Tower operator, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), was a request to avoid physical contact between religious figures within the delegation and women. However, this instruction underwent a gradual expansion as it moved through various levels of management internally.
"Through word of mouth, the message was distorted," the report stated. Consequently, some female employees were asked to temporarily leave their posts, or were replaced, while the BAPS delegation moved through the tower. Examples included a cleaning service worker asked to wait and a female elevator operator replaced during the descent.
BAPS Responds to Findings
BAPS France welcomed the investigation's conclusions, reaffirming its consistent stance that it never requested the hiding, removal, or exclusion of female employees. In a statement, BAPS France expressed hope that the clarification would foster a better understanding of the circumstances and allow for respectful moving forward.
The organization also conveyed concern for the employees affected by the incident, hoping the findings would help clarify the events surrounding the visit.
Leadership Change at SETE
The controversy has also led to a change in leadership at SETE. Director General Patrick Branco Ruivo is scheduled to depart his role by the end of 2026. SETE's own internal review acknowledged operational failures that resulted in female staff exclusion, deeming the situation unacceptable. Ruivo, however, denied personally issuing any orders to remove or replace female employees.