New Delhi, May 11 (IANS): The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday sent a legal notice to the BJP and its East Delhi candidate Gautam Gambhir over defamatory statements in wake of "derogatory pamphlet" circulated in the constituency against its candidate Atishi.

Filed by advocate Mohammad Irshad from the legal cell of the AAP, the notice termed the pamphlet an "offensive publication".

On Thursday, the AAP displayed the pamphlet, which they claim was circulated in the East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency area by Atishi's rival Gambhir ahead of the May 12 polls.

However, Gambhir had rejected the allegation and filed a defamation case against Atishi and AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia.

The notice, which claims that the pamphlets were published by Gambhir and the BJP, also says that the pamphlets insinuates that AAP's candidate "is a person of dubious origin" and had indulged in "impermissible activities of sexual nature at her workplace".

Among other things, it also says that the pamphlets insinuates that Atishi "threatens government officials" and is a "sex worker".

The notice also said that the pamphlets were a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

"The offensive publication is not only defamatory and motivated but also false, baseless, incorrect, unverified and misleading...", it said and demanded that both Gambhir and BJP should render immediate "apology to the client (AAP), its leaders and candidate".

The AAP said the apology should be handed over to it personally in writing by BJP and Gambhir as well as should be printed in newspapers within 24 hours of receipt, failing which "appropriate legal proceedings will be initiated".