The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 12, Sunday 13 Jul 2025, Arden

ACROSS

1   Safe keeping - I reach out to an ever-smiling character (8,3) CHESHIRE CAT {CHES{I+REACH}*T}

7   Entry not by sky (3) LOB LOBby

9   Permit refused to enter a joint (5) MITRE [T]

10 Help poor Monica to come inside compound (5,4) AMINO ACID {A{MONICA*}ID}

11 Principality runs into a mansion, perhaps (3,6) SAN MARINO  {R} in {A+MANSION}*

12 Bear it in Japan, daily (5) PANDA [T]

13 Principal, after a change of heart is letting (7) LEASING LEA(-d+s)SING

15 Indian cosmetic for an Indian cricketer? Shows no interest (4) KOHL KOHLi

18 Retreating bear - not like some birds (4) EMUS asSUME<=

20 Scale up original module (7) CAPSULE*

23 Copying centre page - fix inside (5) APING {pA{PIN}Ge}

24 Healing in cuts - turns to incidental music (9) MEDICINAL {MEDICINAL+IN+CUTS}*=INCIDENTAL MUSIC

26 Work listed - take him in to strip (9) DISMANTLE {DIS{MAN}TLE*}

27 Regular pear, cut in half with another fruit (5) PAPAW {PeAr}{PAre}{W}

28 Light material not on (3) RAY RAYon

29 Harry no matter has a cap (3-1-7) TAM-O-SHANTER*

DOWN

1   River fish I caught for teddy (8) CAMISOLE {CAM}{SOLE} over {I}

2   European sea, not in pollution (8) ESTONIAN*

3   Scavenger shortly has to receive some money (5) HYENA {H{YEN}As}

4   Peregrine migration possible without it (7) ROAMING MiGRtIAON*

5   Fish caught in hook outside (7) CHINOOK {C}{IN+HOOK}* (Correction - {C}{H{IN}OOK} - See comments)

6   Joint support for military transport (9) TROOPSHIP {HIP}<=>{TROOPS}

7   Clear blue film - removed and despatched as told (6) LUCENT {bLUe}{(~sent)CENT}

8   Deadline to block light - there is uproar (6) BEDLAM {BE{D}{L}AM}

14 Trimming allocation to house a settler (9) IMMIGRANT {TRIMMING}* over {A}

16 Dog breed tips? (8)  TURNSPIT {TIPS}* [RA]

17 Does flow in and spoil (8) DEFLOWER {DE{FLOW}ER}

19 Post my operation there is minute mark (7) SYMPTOM {POST+MY}*{M}

20 They keep asking basketball players to get close to hundred (7) CADGERS {CA{h...eD}GERS}

21 Keep sharp and erect please (6) PANDER [T]

22 Regret sending forces into such an awful place (6) PIGSTY {PI{G'S}TY}

25 Oil source starts - cartel's oil production rises again (5) COPRA Acrostic

Reference List

Runs = R, Interest = I, With = W, Caught = C, Dead = D, Line = L, Minute = M