Results of Prize Special, Sun, Oct. 20, 2013

The above is the numbered solution grid of the crossword.

The clues with the annotated solutions:

ACROSS

1   See doctor's operation on outskirts of Bellary (4,2) DR OP BY

4   Makes fast sale by using a devious method (6) BELAYS*

8   A good shrew not starting attack (7) A G [o]GRESS

9   Bathroom fixture manufacturer using voice booster for dish (7) CERA MIC

11 Instils awe into concerns of dieters (10) WAISTLINES*

12 Sharpness of knife cutting sides of account book (4) [l]EDGE[r]

13 Mother's working to be a novel lawyer (5) MAS ON

14 Delicacies for attractive women in the U.S.? (8) CUPCAKES

16 Shoe for spymaster losing tip of Oxford in big event (8) M OCCASI[o]N

18 Agreements with Comrade may get cars, perhaps (5) [com]PACTS

20 Requests for jobs taking no time (4) [t]ASKS

21 Disregarding a group working in Gujarat's capital (10) A BAND ON IN G

23 Office aids turning out the same again and again (7) COPIERS

24 News is this is the time when everything is a problem (7) MESS AGE

25 Lacking refinement, but could be hearty (6) EARTHY*

26 Tell it's creative work by rascals (6) IMP ART

DOWN

1   Follow mother's principle (5) DOG MA

2   Roots of cars from which money is thrown out (7) [m]ORRISES

3   Extremes in Wimbledon producing mean verses (9) BASELINES

5   They are against all odds (5) EVENS

6   In the manner of dame relaxing in Californian city (7) A LA MEDA*

7   Such bees have no bite in them, obviously (9) STINGLESS

10 These snakes disturb Nana's coda (9) ANACONDAS*

13 Doctor on saint -  one in a Wilkie Collins classic (9) MO ON ST ONE

15 A hope that may go up in smoke - or down the drain (4,5) PIPE DREAM

17 Dismiss bank employee (7) CASHIER (double def)

19 Card game in which players hold a new ace (7) C(A N)AST A

21 Expression of dismay as raga's stretched to ultimate stretch (5) AARG* H

22 Time to be near pet at last (5)  NIGH T

Director and Col. Deepak Gopinath thank the following (in no particular order) who sent in their entries:

Ajay Chadha, New Delhi

Bhalchandra Pasupathy, Chennai

Gita Balakrishnan, Kolkota

Gita Iyer, California

Kishore M. Rao, Bangalore
Lakshmi S. Vaidyanathan 

Mohsin Ahmed, Bangalore

Mrs. Pavalamani Pragasam, Madurai
Prasenjit Bhowmik, Bangalore

Raghunath, P., Hyderabad

Ramesh Jagannathan,Hyderabad
Prof. Nadathur S. Rangarajan, Hyderabad
Rangarajan, K, Bangalore

N. Rengaswamy, Chennai
Sandhya Paruchuri, Hyderabad

Suresh Dorbala,Vizag

C. N. Umamaheshwar (Raju), Coimbatore
Dr. S.Venkatesh, New Delhi
Vinayak Rao Ekbote, New Delhi

From among all the eligible entries, the following was selected by an online computer randomization process as the winner of the single book prize. 

The winner is

Ajay Chadha, New Delhi

The book will be sent to him by courier as soon as possible. 

(PS: The book was sent by SpeedPost at 11-30 a.m. on Tue, Oct.22) 

(PS 2: On on-line tracking, I understand that the packet has been delivered.)

Thanks are due to Director for contributing the puzzle and to Col. Deepak Gopinath for hosting this competition. It was fun conducting the event.