No 14838, Monday 06 Jul 2026, Arden

Solution to 17D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   PM comes to grip with a druggie without work and his method of working (5,8) MODUS OPERANDI {MOD{US{{OP}ER}{AND}I}

10 Slammed as the little devil played a role (5) ACTED impACTED

11 With home study make true agreement (9) INDENTURE {IN}{DEN}{TRUE*}

12 Rage about one going underwater — it's highly corrosive (4,5) AQUA REGIA {REG{1}A*}<=>{AQUA}

13 Sweep opening, take time off for golf (5) DEBUG DEBU(-t+g)G

14 The German drink will subside (3,4) DIE DOWN {DIE}{DOWN} 

16 Good natured, is nice to back some one in the group (7) INSIDER [T<=]

18 Next to undress — questions follow revelations (7) EXPOSES {nEXt}{POSES}

20 Lizard losing head in company of a furry animal (7) GUANACO {iGUANA}{CO}

22 Gets rid of bags filled with cork finally (5) SACKS {SAC{corK}S}

24 Sailing, generally (2,3,4) IN THE MAIN [DD]

26 Initially, no objection certificate to use radio not allowed late in the night (9) NOCTURNAL Acrostic

27 Speak for zero value (5) ORATE {O}{RATE}

28 I get a front man out breaking (13) FRAGMENTATION*

DOWN

2   Starts offering basic training — it's impolite to interfere (7) OBTRUDE {Of...g}{Ba..c}{Tr...g}{RUDE}

3   Experiences of active end user taking leave (9) UNDERGOES {END+USER}* over {GO}

4   Start off planting being in debt (5) OWING sOWING

5   Adorable, getting attention in conclusion (9) ENDEARING {END{EAR}ING}

6   Covered new roof within a day (5) AWNED {A}{NEW*}D} Roof as Anind?

7   Pounded back of head and massaged (7) DRUBBED {heaD}{RUBBED}

8   Usually no odd ones while dealing with a dip, say (5,8) SALAD DRESSING {uSuAlIy}{ADDRESSING}

9   Not even greying beard can be contrary to a radiation detector (6,7) GEIGER COUNTER {GrEyInG+bEaRd}{COUNTER}

15 New subject, without ignorance (9) NESCIENCE {NEw}SCIENCE}

17 "Room for suspicion", they say, when disoriented (6-3) S?A?E? O?T ()

19 Spectacular shot, showing no lust for a safety vehicle on track (4,3) PACE CAR  sPECtACulAR*

21 A bash over regular fashion makes one brave (7) ARAPHO {A}{RAP}{fAsHiOn}

23 Suspended second breather (5) SLUNG {S}{LUNG}

25 Washroom — not one available for renting (2,3) TO LET TOiLET

Reference List

Work = OP, Time = T, Golf = G, Day = D, With = W, Second = S

Special, Sunday 05 Jul 2026, K Koteswar Rao

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Grid will be updated with solutions after 8 PM.

Enjoy.