New Delhi, Nov. 23: RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Prasad, accused of raping a minor girl at his Nawada residence in February this year, today offered in the Supreme Court to keep himself out of Bihar till trial in the case was over.

The MLA's assurance was made before the bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice N.V. Ramana by senior counsel Dushayant Dave during the arguments in which the Bihar government turned down the plea.

Senior counsel Gopal Subramanium, appearing for the state of Bihar, told the court that Raj Ballabh ought to be kept in jail till the trial was completed as the victim and her family faced grave threat from the ruling combine legislator.

The bench, after hearing the arguments, reserved its judgment. The court will pronounce its verdict in a few days.

On November 8, the apex court had cancelled Raj Ballabh's bail and sent him back to jail for two weeks to enable the victim to give her testimony without any fear.

The apex court, while asking the lawmaker to forthwith go back to jail, had also asked the trial court to complete the testimony and recording of evidence of the victim within two weeks.

The top court's direction followed an appeal filed by the Bihar government seeking cancellation of the bail granted to the accused by Patna High Court, saying the influential MLA could intimidate the victim and her family who were in a terrified state after he was granted bail.

The state has challenged the bail granted to Raj Ballabh by Patna High Court on September 30 on the ground that it was erroneous as the accused had propensity to influence witness; and the victim was a minor school girl.

Raj Ballabh has been booked under Section 376 IPC (rape) besides relevant provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, as the victim was a child studying in a school.

The girl was allegedly raped by Raj Ballabh at his residence in Nawada on February 6 where she had been taken by a woman named Sulekha Devi on the pretext of attending a birthday party.

Sulekha, according to the girl's statement, had instead taken her to a house where a man, later identified as Raj Ballabh, allegedly raped her.

Raj Ballabh absconded soon after an arrest warrant was issued against him on February 13.

The RJD suspended him a day later, on February 14. On February 20, a court in Biharsharif rejected Raj Ballabh's petition seeking anticipatory bail. The MLA surrendered before a Biharsharif court on March 10.