The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 75, Sunday 27 Sep 2026, Afterdark

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ACROSS

9   How, in the absence of leader, NGO takes an extreme legal action that harms itself (3,4) OWN GOAL {hOW}{NGO}{A}{l..aL}

10 In any environs a cat can make-up (7) ANATOMY {AN{A}{TOM}Y}

11 Girl has argument with boy and a middle-age planter, perhaps (7) GROWBAG {G}{ROW}{B}{A}{aGe}

12 Deep rumble across lake, banks of Tahoe getting empty (7) DEPLETE {DEP{L}E*}{TahoE}

13 Painting outside tunnel features puma essentially in a place full of trees and plants (9) ARBORETUM {AR{BORE}T}{pUMa}

15 Thanks to, say, Aishwarya moving to the front to present an accompaniment (5) RAITA {TA}<=>{RAI}

16 About flowers' emergence (7) OUTFLOW [T]

19 California pub has stranger in show (7) CABARET {CA}{BAR}{ET}

20 Earthenware for sprite during duty frequently (5) DELFT {Du{ELF}Ty}

21 Two small sips frequently after bar to return to most effective range (5,4) SWEET SPOT {S}{WEE}{SiPs}<=>{T} and {TO<=}

25 At college in university campus, six learners found discourteous (7) UNCIVIL {UN{C}I}{VI}{L}

26 Scarf used as silencer (7) MUFFLER [DD]

28 Frequently orders meals last and distributes again (7) RESELLS {oRdErS+mEaLs+LaSt}

29 Certain to carry some weight on bare head (7) TONSURE {SURE}<=>{TON}

DOWN

1   Record on American soldier is placed on a gallery (6) LOGGIA {LOG}{GI}{A}

2   Specialist doctor owns nothing at Bury (6) ENTOMB {ENT}{MB} over {0}

3   Drove back carrying black explosive (4) BOMB {MOB<=}{B}

4   Fiery boxer facing heartless Goliath at Thailand (6) ALIGHT {ALI}{Go...tH}{T}

5   Global pressure and half of them in crisis basically (8) PANDEMIC {P}{AND}{thEM}{In}{Cr...s}

6   Manipulative woman with anger uses club on mammal (7,3) VAMPIRE BAT {VAMP}{IRE}{BAT}

7   Innkeeper is furious; deli's facade is missing here in the centre (8) HOTELIER {HOT}{dELI}{hERe}

8   Classify sect at Puducherry outskirts for resettling (8) TYPECAST {SECT+AT+Po...rY}*

14 In comparison, say sister’s landlady is heartless (10) RELATIVELY {RELATIVE}{La...lY}

16 Say, a conservative recycles gold and uranium, hard without a shred of honesty (3,5) OLD GUARD {GOLD}*{U}{hARD}

17 Beam at the ends collapses castle (8) TELECAST {ThE}{CASTLE*}

18 Things that are dreamt by wife and husband; having a son, basically loved first (4,4) WISH LIST {W}{H} over {1}{S} with {Lo..d}{1ST}

22 Half of open university ultimately end with hatred (6) ENMITY {opEN}{MIT}{u...lY}

23 At the core, pupils allege pauper has an accumulation (6) PILEUP {puPIls}{alLEge}{paUPer}

24 Adding 50% of vegetable's crucial for power, say (6) TURKEY {TURnip}{KEY} Definition not understood!

27 Celebration with daughter at capital (4) FUND {FUN}{D}

Reference List

Girl = G, Boy = B, Lake = L, Thanks = TA, Stranger = ET, Small = S, Bar = T, College = C, University = UNI, Learners = L, American soldier = GI, Black = B, Pressure = P, Wife = W, Husband = H, Son = S, Daughter = D

No 14908, Saturday 26 Sep 2026, Dr. X

 ACROSS
1 Reflect on boyfriend chasing married university lecturer (4,4) MULL OVER {LOVER}<=>{M}{U}{L}
5 Make a date with model at souk (3,3) ASK OUT*
10 Small case in retreat filled with Ecstasy and drugs (5) DOPES {S POD}< around E
11 Body of clergy members finished discourse (9) PASTORATE {PAST}{ORATE}
12 Spot around canal near institute, very alluring (9) SEDUCTIVE {SE{DUCT}{I}{V}E}
13 Style of Greek architecture in department, old and largely magnificent (5) DORIC {D}{O}{RICh}

14 Paid for cast in commercial (6) ATONED {A{TONE}D}
15 Member feared vile slanderer (7) DEFAMER {M FEARED}*
18 Figures essentially checked by remarkably adroit financial examiner (7) AUDITOR {figUres} in {ADROIT*}
20 Mother captivated by chronicle about Tantric scriptures (6) AGAMAS {MA} in {SAGA<}
22 Greek muse in chamber at Olympia (5) ERATO [T]

24 Very gifted young man won Derby easily, enthralling onlookers at centre (3,6) BOY WONDER {WON DERBY}* around {onloOkers}
25 Drives a vintage sedan, primarily extraordinary (9) NAVIGATES {A VINTAGE Sedan}*
26 Garish cap worn by upper-class Republican (5) LURID {L{U}{R}ID}
27 Recognise South American musical instrument (6) SALUTE {SA}{LUTE}
28 Ignore uproar after head of company is confined (6-2) CLOSED-IN {LOSE}{DIN}<=>{Company}

DOWN
1 Grotesque dame having primarily ugly crown of snakes (6) MEDUSA {DAME}* around {Ugly}{Snakes} & Lit

2 Youth consuming a little pot on island with girlfriend is stoned (9) LAPIDATED {LA{Pot}{I}{DATE}D}
3 After reconsideration, start to check fraud by director nevertheless (2,6,7) ON SECOND THOUGHT ONSET around {CON}{D}{THOUGH}
4 English prince chasing maiden restrained and evacuated (7) EMPTIED {E}{P<=>M}{TIED}
6 Impending danger of floods! Cowers anxiously over embankment (5,2,8) SWORD OF DAMOCLES {FLOODS COWERS}* over DAM

7 Broadcasting soon - AI related films (2-3) ON-AIR [T]
8 See 17 (4,4)
9 Go up with first-class cast winning Oscar at centre (6) ASCEND {A}{S{osCar}END}
16 Strayed in despicable act after drinking a little rum (9) MEANDERED {MEAN}{DE{Rum}ED}
17 Give a foot massage perhaps to cause one to feel exquisite pleasure (Continued in 8 Down) (4,4,4,4) MAKE ONE'S TOES CURL [CD & D]
19 Reduction in tax saves close to one billion (6) REBATE {R{onE}{B}ATE}
20 Fool picking up extremely bonny Australian lady - it's unfathomable (7) ABYSSAL {A{BonnY}SS}{A}{L}
21 English poet in alcohol-free retreat (6) DRYDEN {DRY}{DEN}

23 Hammered nail over very heavy iron block (5) ANVIL {NAIL*} over V

REFERENCE LIST

Married=M, University=U, Lecturer=L, Small=S, Ecstasy=E, Institute=I, Very=V, Department=D, Old=O, Member=M, Upper-class=U, Republican=R, South American=SA, Island=I, Director=D, English=E, Prince=P, Maiden=M, First-Class=A, Billion=B, Australian=A, Lady=L.