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Rajinder Singh Minhas, 60, of Rochester, Michigan, was arrested
and arraigned last week on charges of falsely altering a public
record, substantial endangerment to the public, discharge of
injurious substance to waters of the state, false statements and
omissions regarding air pollution control and other charges,
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said Monday.
Minhas also served as director and treasurer of Flint-based
Lockhart Chemical which manufactures coatings, metalworking
additives, hydraulic fluids and lubricants.
Critical maintenance and upgrades at the facility allegedly were
mismanaged and neglected, Nessel said in a release.
About 15,000 gallons of an oil-chemical mixture was released
June 15, 2022. The spill came from a storm sewer that discharges
into the river, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of
Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said at the time.
The state later required the company to immediately stop using
defective wastewater and stormwater conveyance systems and to
make other changes. Lockhart has since filed for bankruptcy.
Officials said Flint’s drinking water was not threatened. Flint
used the river for drinking water in 2014-15 before lead
contamination caused the city to return to Lake Huron water
provided by a regional supplier.
Minhas has been released on a personal bond and is due back in
court Jan. 2 for a probable cause conference, according to court
records.
The Associated Press attempted Monday to reach Lockhart Chemical
for comment, but the telephone number listed for the company was
disconnected. A voicemail seeking comment was left Monday
afternoon for Minhas' attorney.
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