Physics Wallah ad showing six Scorpios driving through Gulmarg forest sparks outrage; FIR filed. The viral video, shot in Baderkote, Tangmarg, shows faculty driving illegally through the protected forest, raising environmental concerns and prompting a police investigation.
An advertisement by the edtech company Physics Wallah featuring its faculty illegally driving through the Baderkote forests in Tangmarg, near Baramulla’s Gulmarg, raised concerns about potential harm to the region’s ecology and prompted a police investigation.
The Tangmarg police station has registered an FIR based on a complaint from Forest Range Officer Gulmarg, Iftikhar Ahmad Qadri.
The complaint states,
“A video was uploaded on YouTube showing six black Scorpio vehicles, without any registration plate, entering illegally in the forest area without any permission from any competent authority of the forest department,”
It further states,
“After verification from field staff of Baderkote forest block, it came forth that the video has been shot in the forest area (of) Baderkote forest block.”
Physics Wallah, which operates several branches in Kashmir, utilized this footage to promote ‘Toofan,’ an initiative aimed at students in Classes 9 to 12.
The video depicted six black Scorpios traversing the forest and lush pastures, leading to public outrage, with many questioning how a company that “vandalises” the Valley’s delicate ecosystem can educate students about conservation.
The forest officer’s complaint indicated that the video clearly showed the “vehicles were driven off-road over the green meadows in forest area resulting in damage to various herbs and other flora of the forest thus violating Indian Forest Act 1927 and Forest Conservation Act 1980.”
Police have filed charges under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for mischief, causing damage to government property, and criminal trespass, in addition to sections of the Indian Forest Act.
This incident follows closely on the heels of a case where police took action against several YouTubers for harming the fragile ecosystem in the Breinwar forest area of central Kashmir’s Budgam.
A video showing them driving through the meadows and pastures of Budgam similarly incited public outrage, prompting Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohidin to order an FIR.
Physics Wallah (PW) is one of India’s leading edtech platforms, founded by Alakh Pandey in 2016. It started as a YouTube channel offering free physics lessons for students preparing for competitive exams like NEET and JEE, and later evolved into a full-fledged education technology company.
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