Physics Wallah Faces FIR Over Unauthorized Ad Shoot in Gulmarg Forest
Physics Wallah Faces FIR Over Unauthorized Ad Shoot in Gulmarg Forest
Edtech company Physics Wallah is facing legal trouble after an advertisement shoot in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gulmarg allegedly violated forest laws. The promo for the brand’s new campaign, Toofan, which targets students of classes 9 to 12, featured six black Mahindra Scorpios driving through Gulmarg’s scenic green meadows — footage that has now sparked official action.
Forest Range Officer Iftikhar Ahmad Qadri filed a complaint at Tangmarg police station, alleging that the vehicles shown in the video had no registration plates and entered the forest area without the required permissions.
A subsequent inspection confirmed that the shoot took place in the Baderkote forest block — a protected zone near Tangmarg in Baramulla district. Officials said the off-road driving caused visible damage to herbs and vegetation, violating provisions of the Indian Forest Act (1927) and the Forest Conservation Act (1980).
The police have registered an FIR citing sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to criminal trespass, mischief, and damage to government property, along with relevant forest protection laws.
The incident has reignited debate over the need to safeguard Kashmir’s fragile ecosystems. Environmental experts warn that even minor disturbances to Gulmarg’s alpine meadows can have lasting effects on biodiversity.
What was meant to be a high-energy student campaign has instead drawn criticism for environmental negligence and disregard for regulations. Officials say accountability will be fixed once the investigation concludes.
