No 13216, Thursday 08 Apr 2021, Dr. X

Solution to 15D 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.

ACROSS

1   Victim in genuine denial (8) REBUTTAL {RE{BUTT}AL}

5   Advertisements about tailor-made suits (6) ADAPTS {AD{APT}S}

10 Love book about marvellous biographer (7) BOSWELL {O}{B}<={SWELL}

11 Damn rogue involved in mysterious case (7) ACCURSE {AC{CUR}SE*}

12 Sprinkle pepper finally in casserole (5) STREW {ST{p...eR}EW}

13 Endless passion and desire after gulping down drug (5,4) ANGEL DUST {ANGEr}{L{D}UST}

14 Blunder in end, alibi sadly not valid in court (12) INADMISSIBLE {MISS} in {END+ALIBI}*

18 Money involved in treatment of root canal is huge (12) ASTRONOMICAL {M} in {ROOT+CANAL+IS}*

21 One helping cops track dope with logic perhaps (6,3) POLICE DOG {DOPE+LOGIC}*

23 Promiscuous people, wanting bit of privacy, slip away (5) ELOPE pEOPLE*

24 Easily influenced president to remain in charge (7) PLASTIC {P}{LAST}{IC}

25 Hot paste in achar is savoury (7) HARISSA [T]

26 One in South African forest is fine after knocking back alcoholic drink (6) REEBOK {OK}<=>{BEER<=}

27 Starting to squeal about dupe (8) SPAWNING {S{PAWN}ING}

DOWN

1   Strong old boy in decline (6) ROBUST {R{OB}UST}

2   Small restaurant in club is tropical (6) BISTRO [T]

3   Fantastic takedown grabbing head of opponent in martial art (3,4,2) TAE KWON DO {TAKEDOWN}*{Op...t}

4   Urgent cry for help when everyone’s holding a pack of cards? (3,5,2,4) ALL HANDS ON DECK {ALL}{HANDS ON}{DECK}

6   Cocaine found in duplex belonging to a nobleman (5) DUCAL {DU{C}AL}

7   Cheeky mischievous rubs causing troubles (8) PERTURBS {PERT}{RUBS*}

8   More sticky problem, as it were (8) SWEATIER*

9   It’s used during negotiations in lounge before securing drug at a joint (10,4) BARGAINING CHIP {BAR}{GAINING}{C}{HIP}

15 Shabbily-dressed person in Supreme Court, tackling custody dispute (9) S?A?E?R?W (Addendum SCARECROW {S{CARE}C}{ROW} - See comments)

16 Good hookah in tavern for musician (8) BAGPIPER {BA{G}{PIPE}R}

17 Reveal stuff about looking like a star (8) STELLATE {S{TELL}ATE}

19 Elitist brought back excellent ornamental shrub (6) BONSAI {SNOB<=}{A1}

20 Fellows lacking money, overwhelmed by anguish in Asian state (6) PENANG {P{mEN}ANG}

22 Surrendering as outcast flourishes large knife (5) CUTTO OUTCasT*

Reference List

Book = B, Down = D, Money = M, President = P, Old boy = OB, Cocaine = C, Drug = C, Good = G