No 14191, Monday 03 Jun 2024, Avtaar

Solution to 18D 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   Harbour provides refuge to drunk character (7) QUALITY {QUA{LIT}Y} 

5   Detectives beating the retreat in Drones' bar (7) BESIDES {BE{DI'S<=}ES} 

9   Doctor starts to treat head nurse for Delhi belly (3,4) THE RUNS {Tr..t+Head+NURSE}*}

10 Smooth release after introducing current and dropping acceleration (7) SLICKEN SL(+i)I(-a)CKEN 

11 Groups of black leaves put up with head of young popping out from nests (9) ROOKERIES {ROOK}{EyRIES} Defintion not clear (Addendum - {bROOK}{EyRIES} Semi&lit - See comments)

12 Cardinal, President and ruler making a comeback (5) PRIME {P}{EMIR<=} 

13 Lounge outside India's capital (5) SOFIA {SOF{I}A} 

15 Parallel to one of what a rectangle that is not a square has (9) ALONGSIDE {A LONG SIDE} 

17 Spooner orders "Crush cement quickly" (9) POSTHASTE (~ host paste to posthaste) 

19 Scientist disposing of a German beer mug (5) STEIN einSTEIN 

22 Members of revolutionary council erected memorial (5) RELIC [T<=] 

23 Cheap tailor adapted saree for jeans (9) DUNGAREES {DUNG}{SAREE*}  

25 Almost fully absorb tax hit (7) SUCCESS {SUCk}{CESS} 

26 Short story in paper upset candidate seeking a job, for instance (7) APPLIER {APP{LIe}ER*} There's an extra E in the fodder See comments

27 Religious education classes in recreation centres (7) RESORTS {RE}{SORTS} 

28 Pandemonium in prison about extra charge (7) LOADING {DIN} in {GAOL<=} 

DOWN

1   Iraqis denied independence actively hiring volunteers who are residents of an Arab country (7) QATARIS {iRAQIS}* over {TA} 

2   Ground-ivy ripped out of a hole (7) ALEHOOF* 

3   Hurt, judge lost temper (5) INURE INjURE 

4   Seminary's period of mourning for Jews curbed by the old Hebrew sect's leaders (9) YESHIVAHS {YE}{SHIVA}{He...w}{Sect}

5   Well, head is fired by British foundation (5) BASIS (-o+b)BASIS 

6   Notes describing attendant's shortcomings (9) SLIPPAGES {SLIP{PAGE}S} 

7   Trained a kid to lead in ingenious robbery (7) DAKOITI {A+KID+TO}*{In...s} 

8   Real lions in ceremonial cages (7) SINCERE [T] 

14 A country bumpkin overwhelmed by Yank's chastisement (1,5,3) A THICK EAR {A}{T{HICK}EAR} 

16 Shaquille left, binding with everyone (3,3,3) ONE AND ALL {O'NEAL}{L} over {AND} 

17 Scrutiniser for every housing plan (7) PERUSER {PE{RUSE}R} 

18 Perks up after visit by league mates (7) S?L?C?S (Addendum - SPLICES {SP{L}ICES} - See comments) 

20 International tax returns filled by Avtaar for those honourably discharged from service (7) EMERITI {I}{TIRE} over {ME} 

21 Boy picked up drug with kid's hanky (7) NOSERAG {SON<=}{E}{RAG} 

23 Shots fired to dismiss the insurgents' followers (5) DOSES Tail Acrostic 

24 The most influential reproduction of Raphael's not right - wanting in energy (5) ALPHA rAPHAeL* 

Reference List

Current = I, Accelaration = A, President = P, India = I, A in German = EIN, Religious education = RE, Independence = I, Judge = J, The old = YE, British = B, Left = L, International = I, Drug = ERight = R, Energy = E