The Department of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has recovered Rs57,500 as unaccounted money during a raid at the Virdhunagar Highways Department office near Madurai.

  
A DVAC surprise raid at the office yesterday revealed that the money was meant to be paid to 26 of 54 contractors who had been awarded bids for 27 Highways works. The team also seized gift boxes sent to the officials by an assistant engineer in Sivakasi, police said.