Controversial CVC P J Thomas, against whom the Supreme Court made stinging observations, has offered to recuse himself from supervising the CBI probe in the 2G Spectrum allocation case, the Centre on Tuesday informed the apex court.

“In accordance with the highest tradition, Thomas has offered to recuse himself from the matter,” Solicitor General Gopal Subramanuium told a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly which had on Tuesday questioned Thomas supervising the CBI which is probing the scam.

The court had raised questions that Thomas was the Telecom Secretary at the relevant time.

60-year-old Thomas, who was Telecom Secretary till recently, was appointed to the CVC’s post by a three-member panel headed by Prime Minister but not before the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, gave a dissenting note.

Appointed barely less than three months ago, Thomas’ name figures in the chargesheet relating to import of palmolein when he was serving in the Kerala government.