No 9924, Wednesday 18 Aug 10, Sankalak

ACROSS
1   - He stands charged (7) - ACCUSED [E]
5   - Group of stars with small cash and gold, right? (7) - {CENT}{AU}{R}

9   - How does one feel having succeeded in a Himalayan task? (2,3,2,3,5) - ON TOP OF THE WORLD [CD]
10 - Tainted, but claims to be clean (6) - {I'M}{PURE}
11 - A lawyer caught in investigation? Likely (8) - {PROB{A}{BL}E}
13 - Somehow, being a lieutenant is real (8) - TANGIBLE*
15 - Is that how game animals feel? (6) - HUNTED [CD]

SEE THIS CARTOON

18 - Twain hero, wood worker (6) - SAWYER [DD]
19 - Study diplomacy, beginning to seek connections (8) - {CON}{TACT}{S}
22 - Furtively, a master trails one who spreads fear (8) - {A}{LAR{M}IST*}
24 - Utensil that may sometimes fly? (6) - SAUCER [CD]
27 - Inelegant poetry, however, has power in storage (9,6) - POTENTIAL ENERGY*
28 - Send back to the House (2-5) - RE-ELECT [CD]
29 - High growth that a socialist courted without energy (7) - {RED}{WOOeD}

DOWN
1   - Lover in the morning, our time, carries gold (7) - {AM}{OR}{IST}
2   - Very distressed by reduction by state (3,2) - {CUT} {UP}
3   - Exercise control with the best holding device (9) - {SUPER}{VISE}
4   - Defence on time is quick and neat (4) - {DEF}{T}
5   - Stick together with business at this place (6) - {CO}{HERE}
6   - Bachelor, pale, upset by Indian ruler (5) - {NAW}{AB} <-
7   - The kind of work done in the big top (9) - ACROBATIC [CD]

SEE THIS CARTOON

8   - Poisonous oxide that may render dealer dead (3,4) - {RED LEA*}{D}
12 - A pest at home (3) - FLY [CD]
14 - Coal is unlikely to be welcome here (9) - NEWCASTLE [CD]
16 - Being without instruction turned lan off (9) - UNTRAINED*
17 - A task for a patient one (3) - JOB [DD]
18 - Informal photograph by a swimmer (7) - {SNAP}{PER}

20 - Remained to accommodate royalty but got lost (7) - {ST{R}AYED}
21 - Foolish chap, the first to extend help (6) - {ASS}{IST}
23,25 - Gamblers' haven in Monaco (5,5) - MONTE CARLO [E]
26 - An insult in shameless lurid language (4) - SLUR [T]

GRID