The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 30, Sunday 16 Nov 2025, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Fine independent girl captivated by lousy rogue? Try to explain that! (2,6) GO FIGURE {F}{I}{G} in {ROGUE}*

5   Part of chest is sore, covered by red rash (6) DRAWER {D{RAW}ER*}

10 Leader of band finishes and bows (5) BENDS {Band}{ENDS}

11 Foremost of stars acquired outstanding following (9) SHADOWING {St..s}{HAD}{OWING}

12 Get article about giving up ultimately harmful product causing cancer (9) CIGARETTE {GET+ARTIClE}*

Smoking is Injurious to health! Smoking causes Cancer.

13 Creeps in spot, knocking back drinks - extremely disgusting (5) EDGES {SEE}<= over {Di...nG}

14 Ancient warship in German city, endlessly circling island (6) BIREME {B{I}REMEn}

15 One seen in recreation room playing snooker essentially with couple (4,3) POOL CUE {snoOker+COUPLE}* Semi&lit

18 Author, we hear, is one who redresses wrong (7) RIGHTER (~writer)

20 Trounced in game shows, giving up (6) CEDING [T]

22 Temperature in area around engine (5) MOTOR {RO{T}OM}<=

24 Altering track by old band (9) TAILORING {TAIL}{O}{RING}

25 Caught unawares by open AI's endless range of knowledge (9) OVERTAKEN {OVERT}{Ai}{KEN}

26 Explosive stuff in container brought back by rebellious men (5) NITRO {TIN<=}{OR<=}

27 Programme featuring extremely unkempt musician (6) LUTIST {L{Un...pT}IST}

28 Wrong indeed, so unfair (3-5) ONE-SIDED*

DOWN

1   Start to admire swamp around both sides of creek in retreat (2,4) GO BACK {Ad...e}{BOG}<= {CreeK}

2   Stylish Attorney-General involved in dalliance is cheating (9) FINAGLING {F{IN}{AG}LING}

3   Complaint after bad meal in a resort - it gets messy (15) GASTROENTERITIS*

4   Flower-shaped ornament is extremely elegant in new store (7) ROSETTE {ROS{El...nT}TE*}

6   What surgeon removing implants will do to remind one of past unpleasant experiences (6,3,6) REOPEN OLD WOUNDS [C&DD]

7   Twist arm around wrestler's back (5) WRING {W{w...eR}ING} 

8   Badly regrets eating essentially spicy roll (8) REGISTER {REG{spIcy}STER*}

9   Peddled very pure cocaine essentially in wild party (4-2) RAVE-UP {V+PURE+cocAine}*

16 Found guilty of fraud and wrongdoing, arresting Tesla's director (9) CONVICTED {CON}{VIC{T}E}{D}

17 Intro to big announcement by comic drinking liquor (4,4) DRUM ROLL {D{RUM}ROLL}

19 Reshoot scene of libertine cuddling European model (6) RETAKE {R{E}{T}AKE}

20 Most stylish leader of group performing has new hairstyle (7) CHIGNON {CHIc}{Gr..p}{ON} over {N}

21 Ancient American lodge collapsed (3-3) AGE-OLD {A}{LODGE}*

23 Chirp of a small bird is pretty tuneful primarily (5) TWEET {TWEE}{Tu...l}

Reference List

Fine = F, Independent = I, Girl = G, Island = I, Temperature = T, Old = O, Men = OR(Other Ranks), Stylish = IN, Very = V, Tesla = T, Director = D, European = E, Model = T, American = A

No 14640, Saturday 15 November 2025, Arden

 ACROSS
1 Intrude - good to walk slowly (6) TRUDGE {TRUD{G}E} Intrude to be read as In trude
4 Got egg-sandwiched pickle (8) PROCURED {PRO{CURE}D}
10 Annoyed as poor Niger is besieged by its neighbouring country (9) CHAGRINED {CHA{NIGER*}D
11 In the middle of the carpet, a light-coloured frond (5) PETAL [T]

12 German car is large inside, it's heard (7) AUDIBLE {AUDI}{B{L}E}
13 Essential point of a ruler making animal noises (7) OINKING {pOINt}{KING}
14 Cancel, as every year one leaves (5) ANNUL {ANNUaL}
15 Angry Hilda had to retract, was pompous (3-2-3) LAH-DI-DAH {HILDA*}{HAD<}
18 Just short of catching a fish - pretend to be sick (8) MALINGER {M{A}{LING}ERe}
20 One time go around the area of conflict (5) ARENA {{AN}{ERA}}<
23 Inflow broken - complete success (4,3) HOME RUN {HOME}{RUN} Inflow to be read as In Flow

25 Found one in support (7) PIONEER {PI{ONE}ER}
26 Strange man admitted - discharge (5) RHEUM {R{HE}UM}
27 Upheld after taken to court over slur (9) SUSTAINED {SU{STAIN}ED}
28 Chance for two boys on a way to sell (8) BETRAYAL {BET}{RAY}{AL}
29 Short study over everyone showing paleness (6) PALLOR {P{ALL}ORe}

DOWN
1 Temperature uniform - can keep leaders out and hide (4,4) TUCK AWAY {T}{U}{Can}{Keep}{AWAY}
2 Doug and Andy nabbed Idi Amin, perhaps (7) UGANDAN [T]

3 Biscuit for the poor in Delhi, laid out (9) GARIBALDI {GARIB}{LAID*}

5 Health professional treated arthritis with a dope (14) RADIOTHERAPIST*

6 Not bare-headed chicken (5) CAPON {CAP ON}

7 Wine in Japan is terrible, heading north (7) RETSINA [T<]

8 River has to carry flood water (6) DELUGE {DE{LUG}E}
9 Learned people cross line, stealing it? (14) INTELLIGENTSIA*
16 Love a sailor - a subject raised (9) INAMORATA {{A}{TAR}{OMANI}}<
17 The French support party, Republican breed? (8) LABRADOR {LA}{BRA}{DO}{R}

19 Apprehension about Mike getting support in his seat (7) ARMREST {AR{M}REST}
21 Forever an alien, learn to adapt (7) ETERNAL {ET}{LEARN*}
22 Kid about her angel (6) CHERUB {C{HER}UB}

24 Odd beat to support strange music (5) RUMBA {BeAt}<=>{RUM}

REFERENCE LIST

Good=G, Large=L, One=A,AN, Man=He, Temperature=T, Uniform=U, The French=La (The in French language), Republican=R, Mike=M, Alien=ET(Extra-Terrestrial).