Ragging is an offence under MAHARASHTRA PROHIBITION OF RAGGING ACT, 1999 which defines ragging as: “Causing, inducing, compelling or forcing a student, whether by way of practical joke or otherwise, to do any act which detracts from human dignity or violates his/her person or exposes him/her to ridicule from doing any lawful act. By intimidating, wrongfully restraining, wrongfully confining, or injuring him or by using criminal force on him/her or by holding out to him/her any threat of intimidation, wrongful confinement, injury or the use of criminal force.”

Under Section 4 of Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999 penalty clause is provided as under
Whoever directly or indirectly commits, participates in, abets or propagates ragging within or outside any educational institution shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.
Under SECTION 5 of MAHARASHTRA PROHIBITION OF RAGGING ACT, 1999