A crew member working as a hairstylist aboard Virgin Voyages' Brilliant Lady has been charged after allegedly sexually assaulting two cruise passengers during an Alaska cruise.
Federal prosecutors say 26-year-old Pranit Narayan Pawar, an Indian national, was arrested when the ship arrived in Seattle. He faces two counts of abusive sexual contact.
According to court documents, Pawar allegedly approached female guests during salon appointments and offered them free massages. Prosecutors claim he then led the women to a private room beside the salon, where he allegedly touched them inappropriately without their consent. In one case, investigators allege he locked the door before the assault.
Authorities say massages were not part of Pawar's job as a hairstylist and were not offered as a service in the salon or barbershop. During an interview with FBI agents, he allegedly admitted taking four or five women into the room for massages, suggesting investigators may be looking into additional possible victims.
Because the alleged incidents occurred aboard a cruise ship, the case falls under U.S. federal jurisdiction and is being investigated by the FBI. Pawar made his first appearance in federal court in Tacoma on Monday. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison on each count.
Virgin Voyages has not released a public statement about the charges. The company's code of conduct prohibits sexual misconduct and requires crew members to maintain professional boundaries with guests.
