Creepy cruise ship hairstylist accused of serial groping female passengers in massage scheme
A cruise ship hairstylist is facing federal charges after allegedly molesting multiple women inside a small, windowless barbershop during their appointments, according to the US Attorney’s Office.Pranit Pawar — a 26-year-old Indian citizen working aboard the Virgin Voyages ship Brilliant Lady on an Alaskan cruise — lured unsuspecting passengers from the main salon into a secluded, dimly lit barbershop room to carry out the assaults in a twisted scheme, according to a federal complaint released Monday.The handsy hairdresser allegedly confessed to taking four to five women into the barbershop to give them “massages,” and the document details two of those alleged attacks on June 26 involving victims identified only as “V1” and “V2.”Pawar allegedly offered V1 a massage during her salon visit before escorting her to the adjacent barbershop.Once inside, investigators say, he moved his hands under her shirt and fondled her for roughly 10 minutes.Later that same day, the hairstylist targeted a second passenger, V2, whom he had previously promised a “complimentary massage” for booking future hair appointments, according to the complaint.Under the pretext of focusing on “underarm pressure points,” Pawar allegedly slid his hands under the woman’s bra to grope her.
When he asked to continue to her other breast, the victim refused and fled the room.The following day, the sicko bizarrely approached the victim’s daughter to inquire about her relationship status.Investigators say Pawar locked the door behind him during at least one of the two June 26 incidents.He was arrested by the FBI upon the ship’s return to Seattle.While the hairdresser reportedly told agents the massages were for “therapeutic reasons,” he later admitted to the unwanted contact and stated he “totally regrets his actions.”The 26-year-old was charged with two counts of abusive sexual contact aboard a cruise ship — which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison...