Republic TV has moved the National Human Rights Commission over the "physical torture" and "psychological torment" of its employee by the Mumbai police.

The news channel's plea called it a "a brazen violation of human rights" and "an assault on the right to a fair trail".

The employee in question, Ghanshyam Singh, had been arrested on November 10 in connection with the TRP scam, where the Mumbai police said Republic, among other channels, had "manipulated" ratings by paying money to homeowners. Singh was granted bail on December 5.

Republic moved the NHRC saying that Singh's "personal dignity was shred to smithereens", and that the Mumbai police had shown "horrendous overreach and a complete trampling of due process in custody".

The channel continued: "As part of a witch-hunt against Republic Media Network and in an attempt to fix investigations in a prejudged manner, now all semblance of due process has been shunned and devious means of torture are being resorted to.”

The network had previously approached the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court with a petition asking for protection to all employees of Republic TV and Republic Bharat from coercive action by the Mumbai police. The plea was quashed by the Supreme Court, while the high court will hear the TRP case on December 14.