Case Explained: HARPAL DUTTA V. TODD BLANCHE

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Filed: 2026-06-15 The Ninth Circuit denied Harpal Singh Dutta’s petition for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision affirming the denial of his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). The court held that the agency’s adverse credibility finding regarding Dutta’s testimony was supported by substantial evidence because he omitted the alleged five-year incarceration of his father from his initial application and subsequent declarations; this omission constituted a new allegation telling a “more compelling” story than his initial filing, rather than a mere detail. Furthermore, the court found that Dutta provided conflicting explanations for these omissions, which further undermined his credibility, leaving no objective evidence to meet his burden of proof absent his discredited testimony. Because the petitioner’s testimony was not deemed credible, the court ruled that the Immigration Judge was not required to provide notice and an opportunity to submit corroborating evidence, and thus the denial of a continuance did not constitute an abuse of discretion or a due process violation. Finally, the court determined that Dutta failed to present particularized evidence beyond general country conditions to establish a probability of torture, rendering him ineligible for CAT relief. As a practical consequence, the petition is denied, and Dutta’s motion to stay removal pending appeal is also denied. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.