Research from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University Has Provided New Study Findings on Legal Issues (Twitter-generated Moral Panic and Its Effect on Pretrial Incarceration/ Bail: Contextualizing the Tale of 'Folk Devil' Aryan Khan).

This article focuses on a study examining the legal and social implications of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of 1985 in India, particularly regarding the treatment of offenders under this law. The research, conducted by scholars at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in Delhi, highlights issues of overcriminalization, lengthy pretrial incarceration, and media-driven moral panic, especially in high-profile cases such as that of Aryan Khan. Using content analysis of public reactions on Twitter, the study found a correlation between moral panic, public perception, and the denial of bail, which disproportionately affects individuals based on their social status. The findings raise concerns about the stigmatization and victimization of accused persons within the criminal justice system under the NDPS Act.