Scandal-mired energy tycoon abandons £5million mansion: Boss of oil firm Prax is thought to have left Surrey and the UK leaving behind £1.5billion of debts

A scandal-mired energy tycoon has put his £5million UK mansion up for sale and is believed to have left the country with debts worth £1.5billion trailing in his wake. 

Winston Sanjeev Kumar Soosaipillai, head of oil firm Prax, has faced demands from Government ministers to be questioned over the company’s collapse.

Hundreds of workers face losing their jobs following the decline of the Lincolnshire refinery overseen by the businessman who is also known as Sanjeev Kumar.

He is listed as owning a five-bedroom home in affluent Weybridge in Surrey, according to Land Registry documents.

A shutdown was announced earlier this summer of the Lindsey oil refinery in North Killingholme in Lincolnshire, putting 420 roles in danger.

The base was taken over by liquidators in June after London-based owner Prax Group fell into administration.

Mr Soosaipillai’s Weybridge property was advertised for rent on property website Rightmove not long before news of the move into administration was confirmed.

An online listing described it as a ‘refurbished five-bedroom family home’ comprising five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a swimming pool, a sauna and a steam room.

Mr Soosaipillai’s Weybridge property was advertised for rent on property website Rightmove not long before news of the move into administration was confirmed

An online listing described it as a ‘refurbished five-bedroom family home’ comprising five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a swimming pool, a sauna and a steam room

Mr Soosaipillai has previously been criticised by the Government over the collapse of Prax, which he owned alongside his wife Arani.

Ministers accused him of leaving it in a ‘poor state’.

The couple reportedly paid themselves a £3.65million dividend last year even though the firm had posted losses valued at almost £30million.

Administrators have since revealed there were debts and inter-company loans of more than £1.5billion.

And a High Court lawsuit was filed alleging ‘misrepresentation’ and ‘deceit’.

It was revealed that a bank loan to the firm had been cancelled following concerns.

Five of Mr Soosaipillai’s firms have since launched legal action, claiming breaches of duties as a director to promote their success and exercise skill, care and diligence. 

Reports have suggested that employees are owed more than £4million, according to insolvency experts at Teneo, while His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is said to be due at least £70million and Shell £9.2million.

Winston Sanjeev Kumar Soosaipilla is listed as owning a five-bedroom home in affluent Weybridge in Surrey, according to Land Registry documents

It is believed the company’s overall tax bill could be up to £250 million. Other creditors include Uber and Rentokil.

The Government’s energy minister Michael Shanks has been quoted as saying Mr Soosaipillai should ‘do the right thing and support the workers through this difficult period’.

The couple are reported to have left the country and not yet been contacted by investigators. 

The Daily Mail has contacted the Prax Group for comment. 

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said today: ‘Our thoughts are with the workers at Lindsey oil refinery, who have been let down by the owners, and the Energy Secretary asked the Insolvency Service to launch an immediate investigation into their conduct and the circumstances of the insolvency.

‘The Official Receiver has received a range of bids and is considering if any are credible.

‘We will also fund a Training Guarantee for refinery workers, to ensure they have the skills they need and are supported to find jobs in the growing clean energy workforce.’