The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 15, Sunday 03 Aug 2025, Arden

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   One in pieces returned to governor (6) SATRAP {PART{A}S}<=

4   Ancient treatise represented last game (8) ALMAGEST*

9   High and mighty couple - at heart showing compassion (6) UPPITY {coUPle}{PITY}

10 Can sign for those representing two categories (8) BINARIES {BIN}{ARIES}

12 Performed around that place? Wasn't sure (8) DITHERED {DI{THERE}D}

13 Red maid regularly gets income (6) COMMIE {MaId} in {COME}

15 Bomb burst - it's half on the surface (2,5,5) AT FIRST BLUSH*

18 Sharing and copying hidden part (12) APPORTIONING {AP{PORTION}ING}

21 Agree to fish eating - fit to return (6) RATIFY {RA{FIT<=}Y}

22 Graveyard shift to follow - keep an eye (8) DOGWATCH {DOG}{WATCH}

24 Scoundrel born to start a fire (8) BLIGHTER {B}{LIGHTER}

25 Armature winding about to go - giving shock (6) TRAUMA {ARMATUre}*

26 Perhaps a setter retains love for a marine creature (3,5) SEA OTTER {A+SETTER}* over {0}

27 Returning part of the deposit is allowed at present (2,2,2) AS IT IS [T<=]

DOWN

1   DC current passes through straight briefly in a police vehicle (5,3) SQUAD CAR {SQUA{DC}{A}Re}

2   Court official's past it - moving with forces (8) TIPSTAFF {PAST+IT}*{F}{F}

3   Father had potato salad without hesitation (2,3,4,2,1,3)  AT THE DROP OF A HAT*

5   Ex-PM gets no British accommodation (4) LAIR bLAIR

6   Shot Star Wars - fools do become dumbfounded (2,1,4,3,5) AT A LOSS FOR WORDS*

7   Puzzle over extortion involving mafia films (6) ENIGMA {Ex...oN}{In...nG}{MafiA}

8   Looks less attractive - taking up some ornamentation... (6) TASSEL [T<=]

11 Use soft one to make it attractive (7) FESTOON*

14 Police station unreliable - cities perhaps need a military unit (7) PLATOON {POLice+stATiON}* [CA]

16 Film on decay creates suspicion (8) MISTRUST {MIST}{RUST}

17 Leader in clutch of intellectuals (8) EGGHEADS {EGG{HEAD}S}

19 Agreed to be inside, rising with darkness (6) EREBUS {SU{BE}RE}<=

20 Loft above a place in Greece (6) ATTICA {ATTIC}{A}

23 Asked to start grant (4) CEDE (~seed)

Reference List

Born = B, About = RE, Current = A, Force = F, British = B, Clutch = EGGS