The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 61, Sunday 21 Jun 2026,

Artwork by Prasanna

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

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ACROSS

1   Perhaps able to get one married shortly - it's naturally fertilizing (8)

5   Rollover I have overlooked... (6)

10 ...and committed to restrict (7)

11 Old sailors found, say, a mini wearing girl (7)

12 Found before court (5)

13 Strange predilections - not done at face value (4,5)

14 Propagation in half the country (12)

18 Provide cleanest side for a diner (12)

21 One on the wagon with a black paint (9)

23 Cover empty drawer and copy (5)

24 In my opinion, covering history is like a painting technique (7)

25 Country in Europe, is not a representation (7)

26 Some are present at a mid-week rush (6)

27 Harry Morgan's taking time for such a short distance (8)

DOWN

1   Breed born with wealth (6)

2   Spruce up when finally consumed (6)

3   "Pick-me-up after one" - sung in a flat pitch (9)

4   Wind and clothesline - metaphorically, seen as a vulnerability (8,6)

6   Story-teller makes one sit up (5)

7   Perhaps Putin's angry rival is getting clueless (8)

8   Detects record reprints - not counting the odd ones (8)

9   Various cults around Singapore could be seen in a theatre (7,7)

15 Direct ones acted and they're related (9)

16 Romantic thought and inclination (8)

17 Filmed occasionally, photographed outside top Paris strip joint (8)

19 Standard to disqualify her, they say (6)

20 Soothe with an ointment - cover exposed neck (6)

22 State after a pile up (5)

No 14825, Saturday 20 June 2026, Hypatia

 ACROSS
1 Saw grades at first and walked unsteadily around school (8) GLIMPSED {Grades}{LIMP{S}ED}
5 Makes patients consume unlimited drugs (6) CAUSES {CA{drUgs}SES}
10 Some of mine are still closest (7) NEAREST [T]
11 Spotted every now and then, Leonardo must be on the way (2,5) EN ROUTE {lEoNaRdO mUsT bE}
12 Catch hot liquid discharged from the chemical producing resin (5) ELEMI {thE chEMIcaL}*
13 Source of illumination from tip of lamp, one flickering in darkness (4,5) NEON LIGHT{Lamp ONE}* in {NIGHT}

14 Secure investment with a steady income? It's dope! (5,7) FIXED DEPOSIT {IT'S DOPE}* [RA]
18 Are such foods spoiling casino? (5,2,5) HOUSE OF CARDS*
21 Salvaged part of hospital returning to medical complex (9) RECLAIMED {ER<}{CLAIMED*}
23 Initially Arabs brought Yemeni ships safely to Gulf (5) ABYSS [Acrostic]
24 Criminal pushing Ecstasy through sick girl (7) ILLEGAL {ILL}{E}{GAL}
25 Bush shirt embraced by a man going before that woman (7) HEATHER {T} inside {A}<=>{HE}{HER}

26 Stone age building protecting poor men ultimately on time (6) GARNET {AGE}* around {pooR}{meN}+T

27 Audio equipment voyeur heard on board (8) SPEAKERS {PEAKER}(~PEEKER) inside {SS}

DOWN
1 Plant thriving in geranium pots (6) GINGER [T]

2 Pictures Hypatia playing games (6) IMAGES {I}{GAMES*}
3 Drop cost covering diamonds picked up to pawn (9) PRECIPICE {PRICE} around {ICE<}{P}
4 Relatives of former spouse cared for at a filmy set (8,6) EXTENDED FAMILY {EX}{TENDED}{A FILMY}*
6 Leaders of all parties realigned in last month (5) APRIL [Acrostic]
7 Slow // to respond like a bullet? (8) SLUGGISH [D & CD]
8 Suspect a terrorist keeping watch (8) SPECTATE [T]
9 Where to find items people used to sell? (6-4,4) SECOND-HAND SHOP [CD]
15 Meditative stance of director in American space agency with plan to retire (9) PADMASANA {A}{NASA}{M{D}AP}<

16 Spooner's stepping in line? That's lovely (8) CHARMING {Spoonerism of MARCHING}
17 Strong Greek character concealing extremely unusual lesion (8) MUSCULAR {MU}{SC{UnusuaL}AR}
19 Discontented lady these days eating hard oriental fruit (6) LYCHEE{LadY}{C{H}{E}E}

20 Egyptian God of love coming up regularly from said ruins (6) OSIRIS {O}{SaId RuInS}<

22 Fish in corner (5) ANGLE [DD]

REFERENCE LIST

School=S, Hot=H, Part of Hospital=ER (Emergency Room), Ecstasy=E, Man=He, That woman=Her, Time=T, On Board=inside Ship (SS), Pawn=P, Former Spouse=Ex, Director=D, American=A, Space Agency=NASA, These days=CE (Christian Era), Oriental=E, Love=0=O.