No 14550, Wednesday 30 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 26D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Working with sales force - one way to reach there fast (2,3,4,5) AS THE CROW FLIES*

10 Crime in Madras found to have happened regularly (5) ARSON {mAdRaS+fOuNd}

11 Weapon assessed and smashed (9) MACERATED {MACE}{RATED}

12 Business representative on a ship within reach (7) COMPASS {CO}{MP}{A}{SS}

13 Grounds are ground issues (7) REASONS {ARE*}{SONS}

14 For these old two-wheelers, ban drink leading to social unrest (5) RIOTS chaRIOTS

16 Creams get special mention on Times covers (9) OINTMENTS {MENTION}*{TimeS}

19 It's the mirror image of a tongue (9) MALAYALAM<=>

20 Lament about electronic network (5) DIRGE {E}{GRID}

22 Book about power distribution in a Welsh town (7) NEWPORT {N{POWER*}T}

25 Intend to stop payment for clothing (7) RAIMENT {R{AIM}ENT}

27 See Indian shop with short soldier guarding (9) BISHOPRIC {B{I}{SHOP}RICk} Soldier/Brick? See comments

28 Talk about Indian PM shielding top industrialist (5) IDIOM {MO{In...t}DI}<=

29 Doctor to use algorithm, perhaps (14) RHEUMATOLOGIST*

DOWN

2   Dirty bottles point to same cooking medium (6,3) SESAME OIL {S{E}{SAME}OIL}

3   Dye found within the borders of state capital (5) HENNA cHENNAi

4   You can sit on it if current temperature is cool outside (9) CAMPSTOOL {C{AMPS}{T}OOL}

5   Only Mark gets the prize (5) OSCAR {O}{SCAR}

6   Was ready for any eventuality with a reformed criminal (9) FOREARMED*

7   Pinpoint role so as to allow formal initiation (5) INTRO [T]

8   Somehow assist bury the dead - they are vicious (7) SADISTS {SA{D}ISTS*}

9   House sickness? (6) CANCER [DD]

15 It may sort of turn into a packaging material (9) STYROFOAM*

17 Broken arm in clue is digital (9) NUMERICAL*

18 Run up and run down where plants and trees are grown (9) NURSERIES {RUN<=}{SERIES}

19 Dress restriction you'll find in hotel rooms (7) MINIBAR {MINI}{BAR}

21 Bury original bottom line, wasted toil (6) ENTOMB {BOTtoM+liNE}*

23 A way to stop us spend (5) WASTE {W{A}{ST}E}

24 Sailor to come up on deck (5) TAROT {TAR}{TO<=}

26 Watching - not over bonus (5) I?I?G (Addendum - ICING notICING - See comments)

Reference List

Business = CO, Ship = SS, Electronic = E, Book = NT(New Testament). Indian = I, Point = E, Temperature = T, Only = O, Dead = D, Sailor = TAR