Sant

MEMORANDUM ***

Kumar Sant, a native and citizen of India, petitions for review of the Board of Immigration Appeals’ summary affirmance of the immigration judge’s (“IJ”) denial of his applications for asylum and withholding of deportation. Because the transitional rules apply, see Kalaw v. INS, 133 F.3d 1147, 1150 (9th Cir.1997), we have jurisdiction under 8 U.S.C. § 1105a(a). We review an adverse credibility finding for substantial evidence, see Chebchoub v. INS, 257 F.3d 1038, 1042 (9th Cir.2001), and we deny the petition.

Substantial evidence supports the IJ’s adverse credibility finding. The IJ had a “legitimate articulable basis to question the petitioner’s credibility,” and offered “specific, cogent reasonfs] for any stated disbelief.” Singh v. Ashcroft, 301 F.3d 1109, 1111 (9th Cir.2002) (quotation omitted). For example, the IJ expressed doubt regarding Sant’s credibility after receiving results of an investigation regarding the authenticity of one of Sant’s supporting documents and revealing a significant contradiction with Sant’s testimony that went to the heart of his asylum claim. See Pal v. INS, 204 F.3d 935, 938 (9th Cir.2000) (upholding adverse credibility…