No 11969, Friday 31 Mar 2017, Arden

ACROSS
1   It's conical shape, in brief (7) LACONIC*
5   Yahoo may commit fratricide (7) BUMPKIN {BUMP}{KIN}
9   Leave us, take a left hand batsman... (5) GOWER {GO}{WE}{R} R from?  - See comments

10 ...she writes to God, uses a ground cover (9) AUTHORESS {USES+A}* over {THOR}
11 Flower — perhaps an old lotus on land... (9) CARNATION {CAR}{NATION} Lotus Cars are still there

12 ...old painting's back too (5) EXTRA {EX}{ART<=}
13 Slug or fight, Bravo's not tense (4) BIFF {B}{tIFF} As per wording of clue this becomes IFFB
15 Feeling lazy at home, work's advanced (8) INDOLENT {IN}{DO}{LENT}
18 'Greek Curse' — nice composition (8) HELLENIC {HELL}{NICE}*
19 A new way to decline (4) WANE*
22 Harry gets female in sack (5) RIFLE {RI{F}LE}
24 Disabled pigs grunt miserably (9) HAMSTRUNG {HAMS}{GRUNT}*
26 Girl's drunk, taking vehicle for a romp (9) GALLIVANT {GAL}{LI{VAN}T}
27 Woody Keaton, has no time off (5) OAKEN KEAtON*
28 Centrepiece kept exposed, turns green (7) EPERGNE {kEPt}{GREEN}*

29 Call the stupid fellow in, he is all thumbs (7) DIGITAL {DIG IT}{AL}

DOWN
1   On fast depleting power, what is left? (6) LEGACY {LEG}{pACY}
2   Lower card that is played, indicates weakness (9) COWARDICE {COW}{CARD+IE}*
3   'Reject Rumba' — odd name for an opera (5) NORMA {NO}{RuMbA}
4   Subject of scam — one goes into dubious power sharing mode (9) COALITION {COAL}{IT{1}ON*}
5   Stick to orders, keep scoring runs (5) BATON {BAT}{ON}
6   Prediction on computing power — maybe same or low (6,3) MOORE'S LAW*
7   Bent down, and boom! — left for Thailand (5) KNELT KNEL(-l+t)T
8   Place to be in when assaulted (6) NASSAU [T]
14 Force changing, showing indecision (9) FALTERING {F}{ALTERING}
16 Destroyed old houses — rodents on the rise (9) DECIMATED {D{MICE<=}ATED}
17 One carrying food in bag to an island resort (9) NANTUCKET {N{AN}{TUCK}ET}
20 Accent is on the shoe (6) BROGUE [DD]
21 Angola perhaps on death throes (6) AGONAL* New word for me
23 Drops said to be spurious (5) FALSE (~falls)
24 By the way, the fellow's shy (5) HEAVE {HE}{AVE}
25 Strip it, have a change of heart (5) THONG TH(-i+o)ONG

GRID

No 11968, Thursday 30 Mar 2017, Arden

Tough going in the East!

ACROSS
1   Woman is sharp at sea attacking fleet (8) WARSHIPS {W}{IS+SHARP}*
5   Boy in my shoe (6) GALOSH {AL} in {GOSH}

10 Figure how to contain spillover with ease (7) ELLIPSE {SPILL<=} in {EE}
11 OK with British leaving seaside resort (5,2) RIGHT ON bRIGHTON
12 Suffer attack leaving Mumbai neighbourhood (5) INCUR INCURsion
13 Only time poor stifle a cry, " how the rich live!" (9) OPULENTLY {PULE} in {ONLY+T}*
14 A story about Eddy & Henry making organic stuff (12) ACETALDEHYDE {ACE}{TAL{EDDY+H}*E}
18 Make it small — truly relieved (12) DECOMPRESSED {DE{COMPRESS}ED} Truly = inDEED
21 Top team will rub it out during a game (9) POLITBURO {RUB+IT}* in {POLO}
23 Insight — essentially dry accommodation for a high flyer (5) EYRIE {EY{dRy}{I}E} Anno for I pending (Addendum - {aRId} in {EYE} - See comments)
24 "First to take interest in language" — Indian reviews (7) INITIAL {LA{I}TIN}{I}<=
25 Either way, is No.1 dipsomaniac (7) TOSSPOT {TOPS}{SOT}<=> No 1 = TOP or TOPS?
26 Complaint as girls drown in a river (6) NIGGLE {NI{GG}LE}
27 Seawater all over subway — regular occurrence in this city (8) BRISBANE {BRI{SuBwAy}NE}

DOWN
1   Beetle is small with short base (6) WEEVIL {WEE}{VILe}

2   Left in a trice, turned out to be very old (6) RELICT {L} in {TRICE}* Is this definition correct?
3   Plant may cure, my hip broken (9) HYPERICUM* Thanks to Google

4   Once bill was introduced, six of them quit in a ridiculous fashion (14) PREPOSTEROUSLY {POSTER} in {PREviOUSLY}
6   Fit, having resistance to fight (5) ARGUE {A{R}GUE}
7   An oxymoron is no more welcome (8) OUTSTATION [CD] (Correction - OUTSTAYS [CD] - See comments)
8   Army splits soldiers — they fix things (8) HANDYMEN {HAND}Y{MEN} Anno pending (Addendum - {HAND}{Y}{MEN} - See comments)
9   Expert holes out, Robert bats (14) TROUBLESHOOTER*
15. Well, it's even, not odd — seems odd for a meal (9) ELEVENSES {wElL}{EVEN}{SeEmS}
16 After a party point out assumption (8) ADOPTION {A}{DO}{POINT}*
17 Climbing over Germany, it's very hot... (8) SCALDING {SCAL{D}ING}
19 ...booze and music fill the gap, in a way (6) GRAPPA {RAP} in {GAP}*

20 Nerve condition depends on gender, primarily (6) METTLE (-f+m)METTLE
22 Adventure - it's not hard to sing (5) TRILL ThRILL

GRID

No 11967, Wednesday 29 Mar 2017, Arden

ACROSS
1   Rachel gets bed rest, becomes well built (6-7) BARREL-CHESTED {RACHEL+BED+REST}*
10 Something to pick as subject (5) TOPIC [T]
11 Agents take over brand associates (9) CONSORTIA {CIA} over {ON}{SORT}
12 Exploit and keep quiet — it's cruelty (9) HARSHNESS {HAR{SH}NESS}
13 Dish for the little pet outside home (3-2) PIN-UP {P{IN}-UP}

14 Rush all over the place, shop till you drop (7) SPLURGE {S{PL}URGE}
16 Most extensive master plan — ran out in disguise (7) AMPLEST {MASTEr+PLan}*
18 People in the Mediterranean see red after some whiskey (7) MALTESE {MALT}{SEE*}
20 Unusual things about ear piercing setter... (7) EXOTICA {EX{OTIC}A}
22 ...drink I rejected, it's symbolic (5) TOTEM {TOT}{ME<=}
24 Dravid's outstanding, is on a roll (9) WALLOWING {WALL}{OWING}
26 Temporary mask thief used (9) MAKESHIFT*
27 Stops half way to place it underground (5) INTER INTERcedes (Correction - INTERcepts - See comments)
28 Bid to treat itchiness with exercise (13) CALLISTHENICS {CALL}{ITCHINESS}*

DOWN
2   Reported address — a quiet locality in Mumbai (7) APPAREL {A}{P}{PAREL} (~ a dress)
3   People on shore placed a bet on it (9) RACEHORSE {RACE}{SHORE}*
4   Caught in temptation — could be filthy (5) LUCRE {LU{C}RE}
5   Greeting the crew with the catch... (9) HANDSHAKE {HANDS}{HAKE}
6   ...boat collects, capsizes (5) SLOOP <=
7   Understanding why often ten teams get in... (7) ENTENTE [T]
8   ...the teammates and I play simultaneously (2,3,4,4) AT THE SAME TIME {THE+TEAMMATES+I}*
9   Beat eggs, add last of the flour, spread over fish — It's novel (13) CARPETBAGGERS {CARP}and {BEAT+EGGS}* over {f..uR}
15 Maybe less I weed, more it blooms (9) EDELWEISS*

17 Rise to support the proposal (9) PROMOTION {PRO}{MOTION}
19 Arranging a talk — one on one in Syria (7) LATAKIA {A+TALK}*{1}{A}
21 Second time diction corrected, no point acting foolish (7) IDIOTIC {tIme}{DICTIOn}*
23 Only slum bombed in Iraq (5) MOSUL {O+SLUM}*
25 50% reduction at the top, still secure (5) LATCH {L}ATCH Anno pending (Addendum {C/2=L}{LATCH} - See comments)

GRID

No 11966, Tuesday 28 Mar 2017, Arden

Tough going in the NE corner

ACROSS
1   Fleece talk, spam and scam exposed (6) ALPACA {tALk}{sPAm}{sCAm}

4   One therefore supports electric plant (8) ACANTHUS {A}{CAN}{THUS} Electric/Can ? (Addendum - {AC}{AN}{THUS} - See comments)

10 Mostly noisy, Asia in chaotic state (9) LOUISIANA {LOUd}{ASIA+IN}*
11 Once a WI player makes runs, he comes back in (5) NURSE {RUNS}*{hE} Not sure of Anno [T] See comments
12 After port wine, I follow my interest (7) PASTIME {P}{ASTI}{ME}
13 Leaves money in the US (7) LETTUCE [DD]
14 Vehicle carrying student, a girl (5) CLARA {C{L}AR}{A}
15 Compulsions to modify this into payments (8) FETISHES {FE{THIS*}ES}
18 Sounds increased, bit terrible (8) GRUESOME (~grew){GRUE}{SOME}
20 Remember taking interest in flower (5) LILAC {I} in {CALL<= (call back)}

23 Pure wine bottles are OK (7) REFINED {RE{FINE}D}
25 Accepted rule over condition of dress (7) UNIFORM {U}{N{IF}ORM}
26 Hotter, after second page, colder (5) ICIER spICIER
27 Watchful with Bevatrons working (9) OBSERVANT*
28 Moved from one place to another by plane, downgraded (8) MIGRATED {MIG}{RATED}
29 Rinsed out being all the more supercilious (6) SNIDER*

DOWN
1   Herb — the last of basil goes in special concoction (8) ALLSPICE {b..iL} in {SPECIAL}*

2   Once a state put pressure on another (7) PRUSSIA {P}{RUSSIA}
3   Found an IT company to remonstrate (9) CASTIGATE {CAST}{IGATE}
5   Daily draw mostly uses exotic dish (9,5) CHARLOTTE RUSSE {CHAR}{LOTTE Ry}{USES}*

6   Bit of verse relaxes everybody (5) NONET Anno pending (Addendum - {NONE}{T} or (None tense) - See comments)
7   Harry's said to have commented on woman's formal dress (7) HIRSUTE (~her suit)
8   Feel threatened by a good player holding on (3,3) SEE RED {SEE {RE}D}
9   Wrap food — hog away and work close to home in South Africa (4,2,4,4) CAPE OF GOOD HOPE {CAP} {HOG+FOOD}*{OP}{homE} (Correction - {CAPE} {HOG+FOOD}*{OP}{homE} - See comments)
16 Leon and Doris struggle to move forward (7,2) SOLDIER ON {LEON+DORIS}*
17 Sabre rattling — I'm racist (8) SCIMITAR*

19 Back wearing hoop, going down river (7) RAFTING {R{AFT}ING}
21 Story teller surfaces in 'fat cat' (7) LEOPARD {POE}<= in {LARD}

22 It's rum making a statement of fact (6) TRUISM*
24 Standard American support for opera (5) NORMA {NORM}{A}

GRID

No 11965, Monday 27 Mar 2017, Buzzer

ACROSS
9   Starlet, essentially new, appearing in moving cameo in a love story (7) ROMANCE {s..R..t}{OMA{N}CE*}
10 Lambast/bristle at herbal drinks (7) LEATHER [T]
11 Toast left out to cook quickly (5) SAUTE SAlUTE
12 Pine and beech pronounced in this Californian city (4,5) LONG BEACH {LONG} {BEACH}(~beech)
13 Operating at full tilt being well informed (2,2,5) UP TO SPEED {UP TO} {SPEED}
14 Switching hands, delicate skill (5) FLAIR F(-r+l)LAI(-l+r)R
15 Comment on show not quite open (7) EXPOUND {EXPO}{UNDo}
17 Part of pulpit's coming loose (5,2) SPLIT UP*
19 Useful tips for holiday (5) HANDY HandY from {Ho...aY}
20 Aim in turn to curb speaker delays (9) MORATORIA {ORATOR} in {AIM<=}
22 Frenetically run through new fanzine that’s ultimately sappy (2,1,6) IN A FRENZY {R} in {FANZINE}*{s..pY}
24 Cold? The opposite (5) POLAR [DD]
25 Backing budget that is outwardly very vague (7) EVASIVE {SAVE<=}{I{V}E}
26 Erstwhile art to produce marionette (3-4) ONE-TIME MarIONEtTE* [RA] [CA] See comments

DOWN
1   Positive resolution certainly a constraint (8) PRESSURE {P}{RES}{SURE}
2   Money is second in a relationship (6) AMOUNT {A{MO}UNT}
3   Relief day amidst exacting nurse duty (10) UNDERSTUDY {D} in {NURSE+DUTY}*
4   Knowledgeable people in general will be afraid of starting off (4-4) WELL-READ {WELL}-{dREAD}
5   Made a copy of compact disc containing single (6) CLONED {C{LONE}D}
6   Preserve book-post (4) JAMB {JAM}{B}
7   Bird running past a hen (8) PHEASANT*

8   A right time to overthrow old British monarch (6) ARTHUR {A}{R}{THUR} What's the role of 'overthrow'? (Addendum - {A}{RT}{HoUR} - See comments)
14 Writer's thought to topple and stall (4-3,3) FELT-TIP PEN {FELT}-{TIP} {PEN}
16 Price involving Canada made police cruiser (5,3) PANDA CAR {CANADA}* in {PR}

17 False God — Satyr, an animal out of control (5,3) STRAY DOG*
18 Training to go along by noon in shade (3-5) PEA-GREEN {PE}{A-GREE}{N}
19 Man providing meat to very young farm animal (6) HEIFER {HE}{IF}{vERy}
20 Currency including Knut primarily for Potter? (6) MONKEY {MON{Knut}EY}
21 Quarrel lieutenant had with relative down under (6) RELLIE [T]
23 Freudian slips periodically bringing harm (4) RUIN fReUdIaN

GRID

Special, Sunday 26 Mar 2017, Dr Satyen Nabar

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Charged about two dollars, it’s inferred (6)
4   Throwing pie? Silly, I hear but what a revelation (8)
9   Embarrassed about brief proposal leading to ridicule (6)
10 What’s found in wet areas perhaps! (8)
12 Look after fort (4)
13 Letter that’s flown from Agra-Rome with me (10)
15 Full stop at the end of a colon? (12)
18 Gate-crasher perhaps? (9, 3)
21 Amazing atrium with quaint interiors gets official approval (10)
22 Some yobs assaulting all around? Need police order in UK (4)
24 Plague record one medic assembled (8)
25 Academic in capital at African citadel (6)
26 Transfer fool in government (8)
27 Elite umpire keels over clutching bottom (6)

DOWN
1   Pass ball to the left or right of close companion (8)
2   Nurses go operate with them! (8)
3   Destroys objectives (4)
5   Rose up hassled receiving bill? It’s incredible (12)
6   Source of energy that a presenter would like (5, 5)
7   Ron quits running marathons due to this? (6)
8   Told tales but flashback spoils end (6)
11 Being responsible for each tantrum at class (12)
14 Cleverly teases son about commotion with firmness (10)
16 Trouble? Surrender weapon (8)
17 Put out about nothing? Be more calm (8)
19 I learn new type of equation (6)
20 Most favourable conditions to select one scholar (6)
23 Plunder ship (4)

Across Lite Version can be accessed at Dr SN 12

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword, Sunday 26 Mar 2017

ACROSS
1   Meek letter after replacement (10) SUBMISSIVE {SUB}{MISSIVE}
6   Large number in service (4) MASS [DD]
9   King grows old and is uncontrollable (5) RAGES {R}{AGES}
10 Track back during ceasefire behind small building (9) STRUCTURE {S}{TRUC{RUT<=}E}
12 Twisted screw finally fixed, securing line (8) WRIGGLED {s..eW}{RIGG{L}ED}
13 Part of gun found in river in wood (6) BREECH {B{R}EECH}

15 Proper variety of coral, you recall, initially red? (7,6) PRIMARY COLOUR {PRIM}{CORAL+YOU+Re...l}*
18 Novelist in state following gripping yarn (8,5) VIRGINIA WOOLF {VIRGINIA} {WOOL}{F}
20 Duplicate agent put away (6) REPEAT {REP}{EAT}
22 Filter signal's first followed by coach (8) STRAINER {Si...l}{TRAINER}
24 Clean a lot, getting frantic suddenly (3,2,4) ALL AT ONCE*
25 Identification with Greek character, not a fool (5) IDIOT {ID}{IOTa}
26 Restrained trend in hearing (4) TIED (~tide)
27 Couriers bringing pickle and mixed greens (10) MESSENGERS {MESS}{GREENS*}

DOWN
1   Calculating weight in fragment (6) SHREWD {SHRE{W}D}
2   Front of barrier one gripped, prepared for fairground ride (3,6) BIG DIPPER {Ba...r}{1}{GRIPPED}*

3   Corrupt financing – is it not important? (13) INSIGNIFICANT*
4   Methodical, say, working around check on habitual action (10) SYSTEMATIC {SY{STEM}A*}{TIC}
5   Change your answer, against getting up (4) VARY {YR}{A}{V}<=
7   A source of inspiration and delight (5) AMUSE {A}{MUSE}
8   Guide quietly separating woman and man on road (8) SHEPHERD {SHE}{P}{HE}{RD}
11 Evidence in speech after expression of surprise over cheat (13) CORROBORATION {COR}{ROB}{ORATION}
14 European news is yet to be translated for viewer (10) EYEWITNESS {E}{NEWS+IS+YET}*
16 Attack rotten thinking lacking power (9) OFFENSIVE {OFF}{pENSIVE}
17 Finished project, dull (8) OVERCAST {OVER}{CAST}
19 Overturned instrument good for nothing (6) GRATIS {SITAR}{G}<=
21 Beat seed (5) PULSE [DD]
23 Joint outlook needed to some extent (4) KNEE [T]

GRID

No 11964, Saturday 25 Mar 2017, Neyartha

ACROSS

1 Quarrel over transport for attending religious services (11)  WORSHIPPING {WOR<=}{SHIPPING}
9 Article on a military alliance trapping a model with an orange-red dye (7) ANNATTO {AN}{NAT{T}O}
10 Hippie's target for piercing is part of a 3 Dn. (6) TONGUE (DD)

11 String follower revealing false expectations? (5) ALONG (CD) From the phrase string along
12 Bill counter packs disassembled rake for a raid (5-2) BREAK-IN {B{RAKE*}-IN<=}
15 Restore, say, part of a 3 Dn. (4) HEEL {~HEAL}
16 Rat in hotel chewed part of a 3 Dn. (6,4) THROAT LINE {RAT IN HOTEL}*
18 Leaping insect in a funnelshaped container at the end of a thoroughfare lacking shoulders (10) TREEHOPPER {sTREEt}{HOPPER}

20 Flog the opening bat, dismissed by a wide, with part of a 3 Dn. (4) WELT {(-b+W)ELT}
23 Division of one-fourth of a gallon by a queen (7) QUARTER {QUART}{ER}
24 A selection of free verses for town officer (5) REEVE (T)
26 Tesla and Oscar walk back for part of a 3 Dn. (6) TOECAP {T}{O}{ECAP<=}
27 Drug addicts repairing submarines made half of the miners quit (7) ABUSERS {SUBMARINES-MIN}*
28 Biblical theatre production in a sty? Reply may be ordered (7,4) MYSTERY PLAY {STY REPLAY MAY}*

DOWN

2 Loss of power resulting from shock after abandoning resistance (6) OUTAGE {OUTrAGE}
3 Piece of footwear found by son climbing up the pipe (4) SHOE {(+S)HO(-s)E}
4 Meddler at home burnt petrol with hesitation (10) INTERLOPER {IN}{PETROL*}{ER}
5 Daughter gets rid of the new flags for some necklaces (8) PENDANTS {PEN(-n+D)ANTS}
6 Molluscs on nuclear submarines (7)  NAUTILI (DD)
7 Could a golden one be an apt parting gift? (9) PARACHUTE (CD) This is what execs hope to get when the board rediscovers Peter's prinicple
8 Letters from Britain solemnising part of a 3 Dn. (6) INSOLE (T)
13 See perk tossed after gathering climber cultivated as a brewing aid for a tradesman (10) SHOPKEEPER {SEE PERK}* around {HOP}
14 Improper size? Get it to show the prevailing mood (9) ZEITGEIST {SIZE GET IT}*
17 Taking that path might not yield success (8) SHORTCUT (CD)
19 Evasive note on king getting entertained by the return of the Christmas season (7) ELUSORY {ELU{SO}{R}Y<=}
21 Part of a 3 Dn. found in a small island, reportedly (6) EYELET {~ISLET}
22 Volunteers confiscating uranium smuggled by Ram get hurt (6) TRAUMA {T{RA{U}M}A}
25 Part of a 3 Dn. getting rid of the anger of one who's out for blood? (4) VAMP {VAMPire}

Reference list

Article=An, Military alliance=NATO, Model=T, Wide=W, Queen=ER, Tesla=T, Oscar=O
Resistance=R, Son=S, At home=In. Hesitation=Er, Daughter=D, New=N, Note=So, King=R(Rex), Volunteers=TA, Uranium=U

Color/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

No 11963, Friday 24 Mar 2017, Gridman

ACROSS
1   Ram's ready for sweet-talk (6,2) BUTTER UP {BUTTER} {UP}
5   Get a bit of commercial tax (6) ACCESS {A}{Co...l}{CESS}
10 Proclaim: U.S. President meets alien (7) TRUMPET {TRUMP}{ET}
11 Garment in general (7) OVERALL [DD]
12 Charge our country almost going to court (6) INDICT {INDIa}{CT}
13 Time for an event (8) OCCASION [DD]
15 Almost whimsical recall by nobleman (4) LORD DROLl<=
16 What an accident on the road may well bring about — how a fight in a movie can be described (5,5) ANGRY SCENE [DD]
18 Ultramodern directions on tooth by the French dentist initiated (10) NEWFANGLED {N}{E}{W}{FANG}{LE}{De...t}
20 Questions Tamil leader abandoning jobs to be done (4) ASKS tASKS
23 Someone who cares for earth organises force to take on each kind, to begin with (8) ECOFREAK {FORCE}*{EA}{Kind}
24 Dust settles on India's top old workroom (6) STUDIO {DUST}*{In..a}{O}
26 With a bit of rice, Olivia cooked an Italian dish (7) RAVIOLI {Rice}{OLIVIA}*

27 Left, as a large number came in with feelings roused (7) EXCITED {EX{C}ITED}
28 Thin light falling over sport official (6) RAREFY {RA{REF}Y}
29 Give confidence to old men — be barmy (8) EMBOLDEN*

DOWN
1   How one may get a thing done even if it means bumbling through (2,5,3,5) BY TRIAL AND ERROR [CD]
2   Cry loudly — sometimes it's stolen from others (7) THUNDER [C&DD]
3   Look for the answer! (6) EXPECT [DD]
4   Solving this clue is __ __ you! (2,2) UP TO [FITB]
6   Crack Chennai's top investor retreating with heads of school education (8) CREVASSE {Ch...i}{SAVER<=}{Sc..l}{Ed...n}
7   Woman holding up entry form is dodgy (7) EVASIVE {EV{VISA<=}E}
8   You may be silver-tongued but not speaking might help better (7,2,6) SILENCE IS GOLDEN [CD]

9   Strenuous musical performance by boy (9) CONCERTED {CONCERT}{ED}
14 Puzzling to have giant mice running about (9) ENIGMATIC*
17 What old women liked to do in the past decades with daughters and sons in the mating game (5,3) MARRY OFF [CD]
19 Any woman, though, opts herself out (7) WHOEVER {W}{HOwEVER}
21 Under the influence of drugs, son and sweetheart went out together (7) SEDATED {S}{swEet}{DATED}
22 Strips put up on company's decorative material (6) STUCCO {CUTS<=}{CO}
25 Wave made by each man (4) PERM {PER}{M}

GRID

No 11962, Thursday 23 Mar 2017, Gridman

ACROSS
1   Collector's opening bid for small boxes (7) COFFERS {Co...r}{OFFER}{S}
5   Look back in the limits of Changanacherry — it's shiver-inducing (6) CREEPY {PEER<=} in {Ch...rY}
9   One in a section of church is ingenuous (5) NAIVE {NA{1}VE}
10 Reckless person's road speed recalibrated (9) DESPERADO*

11 Stiff boor broken with limited cudgel (7) ROBOTIC {BOOR}*{sTICk}
12 Nervous complaint following disparate sale of band (7) ELASTIC {SALE}*{TIC}
13 Greeting from rebel to the queen (5) CHEER {CHE}{ER}
14 Frequency of chic detectives taking a measure at the church (9) INCIDENCE {IN}{CID}{EN}{CE}
16 Burning desire of extreme party to take on a country (9) PYROMANIA {PartY}{ROMANIA}
19 A large number inside to move laterally (5) SIDLE {SID{L}E}
21 Held the will I cited as unauthorised (7) ILLICIT [T]
23 Backache arising out of you finally taking part in a difficult gambol (7) LUMBAGO {yoU} in {GAMBOL}*
24 Former patient admits editor after dismissing a model — it's appropriate (9) EXPEDIENT {EX}{P(-at+ed)EDIENT}
25 To South Arcot these young people get glossy fabrics (5) TEENS saTEENS
26 Old lover embracing girl is one who does a lot of walking (6) LEGMAN {LE{G}MAN}
27 I seem to be tossed about among Poles in retributive justice (7) NEMESIS {I+SEEM}* in {N}{S}

DOWN
1   Devices that don't help figures in birth register to go up (14) CONTRACEPTIVES [CD]
2   Rex — one in story — is easily broken (7) FRIABLE {F{R}{1}ABLE}
3   One who discards throws out head bouncer (7) EJECTOR rEJECTOR
4   Son cautioned about not having a pulling power (9) SEDUCTION {S}{CaUTIONED}*
5   Social class we're told to discard (5) CASTE (~cast)
6   Eve's first dream revolves around snatching lover's top stone (7) EMERALD {Eve}{MERA{Lo..r}D*}}

7   Pa on the refitted carriage (7) PHAETON*

8   Buildings set in a city for people to live in (8,6) CONCRETE HOUSES {CONCRETE} {HOUSES}
15 Fraud is almost slack in plan to nab a man (9) CHARLATAN {CHAR{LAx}T}{A}{N} Anno for N pending. Seems to be a mix-up in the clue See comments
17 Backsliding by careless leapers (7) RELAPSE*
18 Two men together produce paving material (7) MACADAM {MAC}{ADAM}
19 Review my post with first medico for a sign of illness (7) SYMPTOM {MY+POST}*{Me...o}
20 Cabinets for old-fashioned underwear? (7) DRAWERS [DD]
22 Bond's market ploy (3-2) TIE-IN [DD]

GRID

No 11961, Wednesday 22 Mar 2017, Gridman

ACROSS
1   Stop telling knight to stop (8) SURCEASE (~sir}{SUR}{CEASE}
5   Large brownish wood (6) LUMBER {L}{UMBER}
9   Is fault mended in tube? (7) FISTULA*
10 Papa putting in more excess material (7) PADDING {P}{ADDING}
11 Toured green site that is African grassland (9) SERENGETI*
12 Allowance cut by proportion (5) RATIO RATIOn
13 The French politician in magical home (4) LAMP {LA}{MP}
14 In effect, one changes enough to become capable (9) EFFICIENT {IN+EFFECT+1}*
17 Father and artist reportedly take a picture of fall (9) PARACHUTE {PA}{RA}{CHUTE}(~shoot)
19 Shirt style of Venetian traveller (4) POLO [DD]
23 Block of Goan villages (5)  ANVIL [T]
24 Ten mad men agitating for reform (9) AMENDMENT*
25 Domestic help, with old boy, will be attentive (7) SERVANT obSERVANT
26 Conceited person one finally got to sit around (7) EGOTIST {onE}{GOT}{SIT*}
27 Delicate atmosphere begins enveloping and covering capital of Bihar (6) FEEBLE {FEE{Bi..r}L}{En...g}
28 Superficial type begins eroding in one month (4-4) SKIN-DEEP {S{KIN-D}{Er...g}EP}

DOWN
1   Therefore paper's unit announced a persuasive method of advertising (4,4) SOFT SELL {SO}{FT} {SELL}(~cell)
2   It gives a standing to the speaker (7) ROSTRUM [CD]
3   Horse for each of five got stuck in the heart of Beed (6) EQUINE {bE{QUIN}Ed}
4   Foretaste that turns out to be most modern (5-2-3-3) STATE-OF-THE-ART*
6   Don't make too many false statements? Not exactly! (8) UNDERLIE {UNDER}{LIE}
7   How urn is part of furnishing (5-2) BUILT-IN Definition by example
8   Ignore developed area (6) REGION*
10 With this annoyance, turning one's head may be a problem (4,2,3,4) PAIN IN THE NECK [CD]
15 Prime Minister strides over everybody — everybody — in London street (4,4) PALL MALL {P{ALL} M}{ALL}
16 Track return of favourites also at end of tiff (8) FOOTSTEP {PETS}{TOO}<= after {tifF}
18 Not in favour of publicity lines (7) ADVERSE {AD}{VERSE}
20 Former regarding boy lolling in ease, say (3-4) ONE-TIME {ON}{E-{TIM}E}
21 High range of scholars to start studying Indian forestry (6) MASSIF {MAS}{St...g}{In...n}{Fo...y}
22 Be close to publicity combine (6) ADJOIN {AD}{JOIN}

GRID

No 11960, Tuesday 21 Mar 2017, Gridman

ACROSS
1   Directionless, Raja's walking leisurely (8) RAMBLING {R}{AMBLING}
6   Albert leaves excuses for bird (4) IBIS alIBIS

9   Cares about royal directions (6) TRENDS {T{R}ENDS}
10 Gridman's confession that he's out-of-date. That's dead end (7) IMPASSE {I'M}{PASSE}
13 Lass relaxing in excellent grazing area (9) GRASSLAND {GRA{LASS*}ND}
14 Good man to broadcast: It will take you to a higher level (5) STAIR {ST}{AIR}
15 Aide's strange thought (4) IDEA*
16 Estate's scheme dismissing head of depot (10) PLANTATION {PLAN}{sTATION}
19 First of ranges in petticoat is developed insufficiently (10) UNDERGROWN {UNDERG{Ra...s}OWN}
21 Go fast, girl, it helps you reach a level up (4) RUNG {RUN}{G}
24 Retrieve a fragment I put in part of leg (5) TIBIA {A}{I}{BIT}<=
25 Playing around grandee at open-air restaurant (3,6) TEA-GARDEN*
26 Assert again: US city is involved in organised crime (7) RECLAIM {REC{LA}IM*}
27 With Tamil leader, these mistakes would be nightmares (6) ERRORS tERRORS
28 Stagger back from evil look (4) LEER <=
29 Taking turns or going back to depot without initial supply (8) ROTATION {OR<=}{sTATION}

DOWN
2   Land needing care redeveloped over time (7) ACREAGE {CARE}*{AGE}
3   New one in party cast out (6) BANISH {BA{N}{1}SH}
4   Set-up aide in shop has beer regularly (9) INSTALLER {IN}{STALL}{bEeR}
5   Crush good part of some fruits (5) GRIND {G}{RIND}
7   Learned men accept short tip about primarily samba rice (7) BASMATI {BA}{Sa..a}{MA}{TIp}
8   Son's trial joke about new wool-gathering workers (8,4) SHEARING GANG {S}{HEARING} {GA{N}G}
11 AP lost out — it's mail-related (6) POSTAL*
12 Rag I represented gets refined with regard to farming (12) AGRICULTURAL {RAG+I}*{CULTURAL}
17 Fresh appeal to man — one selling papers (4,5) NEWS AGENT {NEW}{S A}{GENT}
18 Deep mysteries embedded in Bihar canal (6) ARCANA [T]
20 Society girl's lace tears off in disaster (7) DEBACLE {DEB}{LACE}*
22 Suffer, having energy that isn't high enough? (7) UNDERGO {UNDER}{GO}
23 Gold standard, say, of vegetable (6) CARROT (~carat)

25 Sailor hugged most excellent circus employee (5) TAMER {TA{Most}{Ex...t}R} Is an indicator to take first letters of Most & Excellent missing?

GRID

No 11959, Monday 20 Mar 2017, KrisKross

Welcome to our new setter KrisKross.

ACROSS
1   Unnamed criminal captures South Pole's explorer (8) AMUNDSEN {polE} in {UNNAMED}* (Correction - {AMUND{S}EN*} - See comments)
5   Girl pays for jars (6) GRATES {G}{RATES}
9   Maid dons tailored suit (8) DIAMONDS*
10 Rama perhaps is a sailor, winning Ravana’s heart (6) AVATAR {raVAna} in {A}{TAR}
12 Instant tests for the audience (5) TRICE (~tries)
13 To start with, Napoleon enters to receive the French soldier — a well mannered person (9) GENTLEMAN {GE{Na...n}T}{LE}{MAN}
14 Short visit from John's relatives (4-2) LOOK-IN {LOO}{K-IN}
16 Worker crosses river from the east — it’s the shortest way (7) BEELINE {BE{NILE<=}E}
19 Excellent fellow who never gets the bride (4,3) BEST MAN {BEST} {MAN}
21 Encourage to start translating Urdu — it is spoken in Afghanistan (6) PUSHTU {PUSH}{Tr...g}{Urdu}
23 Fresh air, sun, sea for persons of a certain race (9) EURASIANS*
25 Ray catches red fish (5) BREAM {B{R}EAM}

26 Originally valuable article — it’s the source of your pride (6) VANITY {Va...e}{AN}{IT}{Your}
27 Order drinks for Peter (8) ?E?R?A?E (Addendum - DECREASE - {DECRE{AS}E} - See comments)
28 Notice saying: “Change direction” (3-3) SEE-SAW {SEE}-{SAW}
29 Retro songs about Long Island (3,5) SRI LANKA {SRI {LANK}A<=}

DOWN
1   Inspects collapsed stadium after many died (6) AUDITS STADIUm*
2   A French bird (cowardly person), mostly in agreement (9) UNANIMOUS {UN}ANI{MOUSe}
3   Controlled cattle (5) DROVE [DD]
4   Plant’s tip gone off (7) ENDOGEN {END}{GONE}*
6   Guns raised on supporters chucking egg (9) REVOLVERS {OVER<=}{LoVERS}
7   Sign found in Shinto temples (5) TOTEM [T]
8   More determined to trade nothing with a foreigner (8) STRANGER STR(-o+a)ANGER
11 Rolls over in shame (4) SNUB <=
15 Characters from Lockhart, USA, make up a book of Congress (4,5) KAMA SUTRA [T<=]
17 Mostly at sea (2,3,4) IN THE MAIN [DD]
18 Sees doctor and helps (8) OBSERVES {OB}{SERVES}
20 Clean without water (4) NEAT [DD]
21 Scientist from ancient continent, half-destroyed (7) PASTEUR {PAST}{EURope}
22 A crowd surrounds leader of extremists — a spineless creature (6) AMOEBA {A}{MO{Ex...s}B}{A}
24 Compass to begin navigating in storm (5) RANGE {RA{Na...g}GE}
25 Barely managed to sell a precious stone (5) BERYL BaRELY*

GRID

Special, Sunday 19 Mar 2017, Amrita

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM as usual (Annotations compulsory)
Please provide all your answers in one comment.

ACROSS
1   Empty Apartment (4)
4   Soft grass (maybe edible) covers a side (10)
9    A regular beet / devil's tongue cooked ain't no good to taste, for example (6,9)
10 Alternative fuel vehicle goes ahead extremely laboriously and cautiously (9)
12 Pick second vehicle, not the Audi at the front but the SUV from the middle (5)
15 A dress fits evenly and looks like a dream? (6)
16 Guide and preach on reforms (8)
17 Say, shoes exchange counter (8)
18 Not acceptable to sing-along around bar - that would be a way to fight? (6)
20 Fresh crackers - not one is broken (5)
23 Work upon grim areas to form ties (9)
24 Perhaps, a half and a quarter of oral anti-inflammatory pain killers (8,7)
25 Shocked by the first lapse on flip side (10)
26 Corner retreat full of odd lime trees (4)

DOWN
2   Animal suit model took off for party top (7)
3   Sharp tools to stab evil Ken, perhaps (5,6)
4   Peter on vacation, rose hurriedly on receiving dog's signals (10)
5   Spirit of a company besieged by an issue (5)
6   A temple perhaps, found in central Mugello (Tuscany) (5)
7   Quietly stripped varnish spread on alloy (5)
8   Menial worker should be Brown, perhaps says Spooner (7)
11 A navy bordered lace used to design a kind of butterfly (7)
13 The introductory note given before a tour? (3,8)
14  Stage set for second base (10)
17 Twisted laughter, a backstabber's hidden act (7)
19 Principle of other variable measurement (7)
21 Cover up in winters (5)
22 City of Tokyo remodelled (5)
23 Highways seen outside a metropolis (5)

Across Lite version can be accessed at AMRITA 1

Enjoy.

The Sunday Crossword, Sunday 19 Mar 2017

ACROSS
1   Lizard with energy grabbing bite, not quietly (5) GECKO {pECK} in {GO} One creature that gives me the creeps!!

4   List containing tips from epigram and poem, for example (4,5) ROLE-MODEL {Ep...aM}{ODE} in {ROLL}
9   Soul accepting falsehood, very trusting (9) BELIEVING {BE{LIE}{V}ING}
10 Rotten part of frivolous yarn (5) LOUSY [T]
11 Malevolent creature concealed in flower (6) ORCHID {ORC}{HID}

12 Perfectionist beginning to sob, heart broken by learner (8) STICKLER {Sob}{TICK{L}ER}
14 Singer, sober, moon in sky affected (6,8) SMOKEY ROBINSON*
16 Anxiety about half of work, obscure, with a line lacking depth (3-11) TWO-DIMENSIONAL {T{WOrk}-{DIM}ENSION}{A}{L}
20 Confirmed time established in arrangement of date (8) ATTESTED {T}{EST} in {DATE}*
21 Piece of jewellery I love in artist's workroom (6) STUDIO {STUD}{I}{O}
23 One surrounded by cheers, sun god in crown (5) TIARA {T{1}A}{RA}
24 Engine with extremes of power breaking bad robot up (9) TURBOPROP {PoweR} in {ROBOT+UP}*
25 Silly aim oddly receiving resistance in like manner (9) SIMILARLY {R} in {SILLY+AIM}*
26 Treacherous person lacking wide support (5) EASEL wEASEL

DOWN
1   Great upset over book about ape (6) GIBBON {GI{B}B<=}{ON}

2   Fellow in fantastic form, calm doctor in comic novel (4,7,4) COLD COMFORT FARM {F} in {FORM+CALM+DOCTOR}*
3   Honour large venture, right away creating monument (7) OBELISK {OBE}{L}{rISK}
4   Bar protest (4) RAIL [DD]
5   Guide for sailors with happy hearts on river (10) LIGHTHOUSE {LIGHT}{H}{OUSE}
6   Prophet in endless pain in country (7) MALACHI {MAL{ACHe}I}
7   Rules applied unfairly in tennis match perhaps restricting quality (6,9) DOUBLE STANDARDS {DOUBLE {STANDARD}S}
8   Los Angeles group engaging you for hairdresser's work? (8) LAYERING {LA}{YE}{RING}
13 Pretty tense, in a mess without new compositor (10) TYPESETTER {PRETTY+TEnSE}*
15 Opponent disrupting last broadcast in lost land (8) ATLANTIS {ANTI} in {LAST}*
17 Position during delay (7) INSTALL {IN}{STALL}
18 Result revealed approach (7) OUTCOME {OUT}{COME}
19 Politician inhibited by sign about rising force (6) COMPEL {MP} in {LEO}{C}<=
22 Become strained and fight (4) FRAY [DD]