No 14821, Tuesday 16 Jun 20266, Dr. X

Solution to 24 A 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   Fail to impress female? Totally overweight after gaining pounds (4,4) FALL FLAT {F}{ALL}{F{L}AT}

5   Save share certificate to receive money (6) SCRIMP {SCRI{M}P}

10 Resume painting after break (7) RESTART {ART}<=>{REST}

11 Special talent of performer behind revolutionary special effects (1,6) X FACTOR {ACTOR}<=>{FX<=} 

12 Personnel in academy checking nuclear physics device (5) LINAC [T]

13 Consuming drink, sailor played cards (9) ORIGINALS {ORI{GIN}ALS*}

14 Position providing a clear view of singer at ground entertaining team (8,4) RINGSIDE SEAT {SINGER+AT}* over {SIDE} Semi&lit

18 Most innocent groups broken by swindler primarily getting control of finances (5,7) PURSE STRINGS {PUR{Sw...r}EST}{RINGS}

21 One at the helm of small steamer moving close to lagoon (9) STEERSMAN {S}{STEAMER*}{l...oN}

23 Old lady having constant fatigue, finally better (5) EXCEL {EX}{C}{f...uE}{L}

24 Popular detective inspector penning book about foremost of criminals (7) D?M?T?C (Addendum - DEMOTIC {D{TOME<=}I}{Cr...s} - See comments)

25 Tell about liaison with model giving satisfaction (7) SATIETY {SA{TIE}{T}Y}

26 Criminal cut fellow's part of outer ear (6) CONCHA {CON}{CHAp}

27 Bind together granite rocks containing sulphur (8) ASTRINGE {A{S}TRINGE*}

DOWN

1   In spite of slump, acquires gold (3,3) FOR ALL {F{OR}ALL}

2   Missing error in journal (6) LOSING {LO{SIN}G}

3   Husband lives in European country? Right (9) FRANCHISE {FRANC{H}{IS}E}

4   Ability to tolerate unpleasant things is a result of doing sit-ups? (1,6,7) A STRONG STOMACH [DD]

6   Raccoon-like animal in bed, biting a kid at centre (5) COATI {CO{A}T}{kId}

7   Endlessly nattering about private communications system (8) INTRANET NATTERINg*

8   Hanger-on in usual spot, drinking alcohol at premiere (8) PARASITE {PAR}{Al...l}{SITE}

9   Show-offs, both in sixties, romping around island (14) EXHIBITIONISTS {BOTH IN SIXTIES} over {I}

15 One seen in kitchen, say, above good British diner (9) EGG BEATER {EGG}{G}{B}{EATER}

16 Picaresque novel is copied (8) EPISODIC*

17 American economist fired reckless fellow (8) FRIEDMAN {FIRED*}{MAN}

19 Observed stealing crown in disguise (6) SCREEN {S{CR}EEN}

20 Twisted ankle, crossing ultimately slippery compound (6) ALKYNE {ALK{s...rY}NE*}

22 Mechanical device stolen by robber at chalet (5) RATCH [T]

Reference List

Female = F, Pounds = L, Money = M, Special effects = FX, Small = S, Old = EX, Lady = L, Constant = C, Model = T, Husband = H, Island = I, Good = G, British = B, Crown = CR

No 14820, Monday 15 June 2026, Afterdark

 Solution to 27 A 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.

Standing-in for Colonel today.

ACROSS

1 Assume that a piano expert's press release is having one worried (11) APPROPRIATE {A}{P}{PRO}{PR}{I}{ATE}

9 It's tricky to contain West Indies with force on time quickly (7) SWIFTLY {S{WI}{F}{T}LY}

10 Tails of rhinoceros, cheetah, impala, lizard, kangaroo, cow, hippopotamus are tails (7) SHADOWS [Tail Acrostic]

11 Man wearing hat is shoddy (5) CHEAP {C{HE}AP}

12 Collected grant? Heard wrongly outside(9) HARVESTED {VEST} inside {HEARD}*

13 One having primarily rugged muscles, horses perhaps (5) ARABS {A}{Rugged}{ABS}

15 Report on plight faced by people with temperature (9) STATEMENT {STATE}{MEN}{T}

18 Old tax I have is too much (9) EXCESSIVE {EX}{CESS}{I'VE}

21 From the time the French seceded, its quiet (5) SINCE {SIleNCE}

22 Don angrily poses for reforms first (9) PROFESSOR {POSES FOR Reforms}*

24 Kisses Nora, Erica, Carol, Kate, Susan on the heads (5) NECKS {Acrostic]

26 Stage of surgeon! (7) THEATRE [CD]

27 Say, Ivy was 151 metres last year-end (7) C?I?B?R CLIMBER {CLI}{M}{BE}{yeaR} See comments

28 Country handles rent haphazardly(11) NETHERLANDS*

DOWN

1 Partner's a saint, hence spies cantered essentially (9) ASSOCIATE {A}{S}{SO}{CIA}{canTEred}

2 Prince's journey gave satisfaction (5) PRIDE {P}{RIDE}

3 Say, MNCs upset COO terribly on Saturday (9) OCTOPUSES {UPSET COO}*{S}

4 Beats HR myths extraordinarily (7) RHYTHMS*

5 Playing sitar at one university in European country (7) AUSTRIA {SITAR}* <=> {A}{U}

6 Searches area covering from south to north for excise (5) ERASE [T<]

7 Relating to a direction, the Royal Navy follows shogun intermittently (8) SOUTHERN {THE}{RN}<=>{ShOgU}

8 Second-hand bus Edward secured (4) USED [T]

14 Tied up with a routine overnight and essentially intense day (8) ANCHORED {A}{N}{CHORE}{D} "Essentially intense" superfluous

16 Principal with teens sail at sea (9) ESSENTIAL*

17 Heartless trader promises to detain apprentice ultimately and release son for money (9) TREASURES {TradeR}{apprenticE}{ASsURES}

19 Audit in school, physical education coach initially faces tempo (7) INSPECT {IN}{S}{PE}{Coach}{T}

20 Painful condition is clear, AC here is suffocating (7) EARACHE [T]

22 First person at say, Pondicherry collecting cess at the end for Lays (4) PUTS {Person}{UT}{cesS}

23 Had hybrid tea (Earl) with some nougats (5) EATEN {TEA}*{E}{Nougats}

25 Ministers expel stranger out of room (5) CABIN {CABINet}

Reference List

Piano=P, Press Release=PR, One=I, West Indies=WI, Force=F, Time=T, Man=He, Temperature=T, The French=Le, 151=CLI, Metres=M, Saint=S, Prince=P, Saturday=S, Royal Navy=RN, Night=N, Day=D, Son=S, School=S, Physical Education=PE, Tempo=T, Earl=E, Stranger=ET(Extra-Terrestrial).

Special, Sunday 14 Jun 2026, K Koteswar Rao

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Grid will be updated with solutions after 8 PM.

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 60, Sunday 14 Jun 2026

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

Please submit all your answers in one comment.

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Thanks for the response. Here's the regular blog. 

ACROSS
1 Son going back to hug female near stream gets plain vanilla, perhaps (2-6) NO-FRILLS {SON<}around {F}{RILL}
5 Adult movies edited in absence of European author (6) ASIMOV {A}{MOVIeS}*

10 Fight for a piece (5) SCRAP [DD]
11 Showed the ibex running around one near end of field (9) EXHIBITED {THE IBEX}* around {I}+{fielD}
12 Insect was returning next to zipper (6) SAWFLY {WAS<}{FLY}

13 Malicious elf is put adrift (8) SPITEFUL*
15 Impromptu commencement of dance in Bali is funny (2-3) AD-LIB {Dance}in {BALI}*
17 Silly to cover mummy... It's not literal! (9) IDIOMATIC {IDIO{MA}TIC}
19 Will try a setter by the book (9) TESTAMENT {TEST}{A}{ME}{NT}
20 Weight, perhaps, of article in vehicle (5) CARAT {CAR{A}T}
21 Cocks rifle at first, placing on damaged rests after a couple of rounds (8) ROOSTERS {Rifle}+{RESTS}*<=>{O}{O}
23 Remaining ones having troubled rest around hospital behind job centre (6) OTHERS {REST}* around {H}<=>{jOb}
27 Place to keep papers from short court proceeding (9) BRIEFCASE {BRIEF}{CASE}
28 Bird starting to die in rush (5) CROWD {CROW}{Die}
29 Signs up travelling salespersons without passes (6) ENROLS {saLespERsONS}*
30 Tape container that may be obtained from test case (8) CASSETEE*

DOWN
1 Where birds may reside in greenest surroundings... (5) NESTS [T]
2 Goodbyes were wrongly included in autumn speech at first (9) FAREWELLS {WERE}* inside {FALL}{Speech}
3 Drive tortuous mile around front of palace (5) IMPEL {MILE}* around {Palace}
4 Fibbed, "There's a note in the cover" (4) LIED {LI{E}D}
6 Excitedly I combust a quark like particle, for example (9) SUBATOMIC*

7 Wrongly omit female's dominant theme (5) MOTIF {OMIT}*{F}
8 Cite devil wrongly, to wit (9) VIDELICET*
9 Without it, pilot shifts awkwardly and takes without paying (9) SHOPLIFTS {PiLOt SHIFTS}*
14 Plumber's unachievable vision (4,5) PIPE DREAM [CD]
15 American-Indian actor is at Elba resort and can be changed (9) ALTERABLE {ALTER}{ELBA*}
16 Pretty futile arrangement by boy to collect gold (9) BEAUTIFUL {FUTILE}* around {AU}<=>{B}
18 Happened // to be evicted (6,3) TURNED OUT [DD]
22 Shaped Rosie's willow (5) OSIER*

24 Check Mark's // parasites (5) TICKS {DD]
25 Grass like plant contained in processed gels (5) SEDGE [T]
26 Letter from Druze tablet (4) ZETA [T]

Reference List

Female=F, Adult=A, European=E, One=1=I, Setter=Me, The Book=NT, Round=O, Hospital=H, Note=E, Gold=Au.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 60, Sunday 14 Jun 2026,

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

No 14819, Saturday 13 June 2026, Afterdark

 ACROSS
7 Pass surplus income (8) OVERTAKE {OVER}{TAKE}
9 Marvel character gets one leading cameraman's callback(6) ICEMAN {I}{Cameraman}{NAME<}

10 Directed to hail girl in front (4) GAVE {AVE}<=>{G}
11 Straying from purpose by accepting daughter's mistake endlessly (10) MEANDERING {D}{ERr} in {MEANING}
12 Ship officers' captain arrests one (6) BOSUNS {BOS{UN}S}
14 Director to acknowledge fine in front of everyone (8) DOWNFALL {D}{OWN}{F}{ALL} Where is the definition?
15 Departs as crowd enters ship (6) SCRAMS {S{CRAM}S}
17 Cat could be Welsh (6) CYMRIC [DD]

20 Fail to meet expectations in dislocating wolf and lion primarily (4,4) FALL DOWN {WOLF AND Lion}*
22 Suit is special, a leading designer brought to East and South (6) SPADES {SP}{A}{Designer}{E}{S}

23 Page dear Bob, pa ordered material for making boxes (10) PAPERBOARD {P DEAR BOB PA}* One B is extra and one R missing from fodder
24 Star featuring in love games (4) VEGA [T]

25 Tips from co-star included new editing methods applied in movies (6) CINEMA [Acrostic]
26 Assume control of profits at head office absolutely for the most part (4,4) TAKE OVER {TAKE}{Office}{VERy}

DOWN
1 Pilots are new navigators? No, not good (8) AVIATORS {nAVIgATORS} Anagram indicator, new, not required?
2 Not starting rush for egg (4) URGE {sURGE}
3 Grandmother in Chennai's at leading sanatorium unit (6) GAMMAS {G}{AMMA}{Sanatorium} Unit or Units?
4 Diana and Edward; in the absence of love, some sex always faded (4,4) DIED AWAY {DI}{ED}{AlWAYs}
5 Silly errata sinking company that is in solid ground (5,5) TERRA FIRMA {ERRATA}* around {FIRM}
6 Erotic Four chucked out of festival (6) CARNAL {CARNivAL}
8 Antelopes found on ground in El Salvador (6) ELANDS {E{LAND}S}

13 Not a fake explosive planted around half of Kiev is unmitigated (10) UNRELIEVED {UNREaL}{I{kiEV}ED}
16 Township in Ontario has natural light (8) MOONBEAM [DD]
18 Churchmen with no answer? Sacrilege in disguise (8) CLERGIES {SaCRILEGE}*
19 Determined to get an apartment near nurse's residence in the front (6) ENRAPT {APT}<=>{EN}{Residence} Definition Ok?
21 An auditors spies a plant (6) ACACIA {A}{CA}{CIA}

22 American back's fine, being behind Germany for all to see is a puzzle (6) SUDOKU {US<}+{OK}<=>{D}+{U}
24 Instrument is available for 5 + 10 + 50 (4) VIOL {V}{IO}{L}

Reference List

One=1=I, Girl=G, Daughter=D, One=Un, Director=D, Fine=F, Ship=SS, Special=Sp, East=E, South=S, Not Good=NG, Grand=G, Diana=Di, Edward=Ed, Love=L, Four=IV, El Salvador=ES, Explosive=IED, Answer=A, Apartment=Apt, Nurse=EN (Enrolled Nurse), American=US, Germany=D, For All to see=U (Universal), 5=V, 10=IO, 50=L.

No 14818, Friday 12 Jun 2026, Afterdark

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Understanding layers in microphone design without echos essentially (13) COMPREHENSION {HENS} in {MICROPhONE}*

10 A strategy to suppress rule in continent (9) ANTARCTIC {AN}{TA{R}CTIC} The continent is Antarctica! Antarctic is the region

11 Captains of Australia, Rhodesia, England, New Zealand, Afghanistan in the ground (5) ARENA Acrostic

12 Dodge is electric vehicle? Commercial enunciates at the beginning (5) EVADE {EV}{AD}{En...s}

13 Irish band finishes early to welcome associate (9) CORRELATE {CORRs}{ELATE}

14 Start to drink noisily at a distance (3,3) TEE OFF {(~tea)TEE}{OFF}

16 Say, David the English filmmaker is at bank (4) LEAN [DD]

19 Smile at crush almost (4) GRIN GRINd

20 Master's knowledge is beyond the peak of Ultar (6) GENIUS {GEN{I{Ul..r}S} Beyond as c/c indicator?

25 I have little time before and after theatre work that is crucial (9) OPERATIVE {I'VE}<=>{Time}  after {OPERA}

26 Broadcast on good man's step (5) STAIR {AIR}<=>{ST}

27 Next ration will include bonus (5) EXTRA [T]

28 Deport 27 dissenters in the beginning and fifteen regularly (9) EXTRADITE {EXTRA}{Di...s}{fIfTeEn}

29 Say, yellow lorry (car) transporting opium stash (7,6) PRIMARY COLOUR {LORRY+CAR+OPIUM}*

DOWN

2   Old-fashioned girlfriend's behind forbidden drugs primarily (8) OUTDATED {DATE}<=>{OUT} with {Dr..s}

3   Tomato pulp is unadulterated at Spain (5) PUREE {PURE}{E}

4   Draw in second test, Mark avoids duck (6) ENTICE {tEst}{NoTICE}

5   Licence issued to arrest leader of rioting crowd (8) ENCIRCLE {LICENCE}* over {Ri...g}

6   Trisha redrew square in the second half with free program (9) SHAREWARE {triSHA}{redREW}{squARE}

7   Traffic system at the circle's new, absent by end of Sunday (3-3) ONE-WAY {O}{NEW}{A}{s...aY}

8   Complaint on poor book (6) LAMENT {LAME}{NT}

9   In part, prelate reached following (5) LATER [T]

15 Gangster holstering gun, say with safety device (4,5) FIRE ALARM {AL} in {FIREARM}

17 England has a new Eastern European rival starting to manipulate (8) ENGINEER {ENG}{1}{N}{E}{E}{Ri..l}

18 Panchatantiram is under wraps? Sweet (8) TIRAMISU [T]

21 Ship passes over lake on course (6) SERIES {S{ERIE}S}

22 Head Office order extremely empty and rubbish (5) HOOEY {HO}{O}{EmptY}

23 Man caught by heartless officer who is a bully (6) HECTOR {HE}{CT}{Of...eR}

24 Poisoned primarily clueless doubter (6) SEPTIC ScEPTIC

26 Ashley Cole, first and last to be sacked by confused Arsenal in a tangle (5) SNARL aRSeNAL*

Reference List

Rule = R, Commercial = AD, Good man = ST(Saint), Spain = E, Absent = A, Book = NT(New Testament), Gangster = AL(Capone), New = N, Eastern = E, European = E, Ship = SS, Order = O, Caught = CT

No 14817, Thursday 11 Jun 2026, KrisKross

Solution to 12A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Chemist's quick to wrap wound (8) PHARMACY {P{HARM}ACY}

5   Reportedly delivers heavy woollen fabric (6) FRIEZE (~frees)

9 &13 They are used to revive sailors with BO? (8,5) SMELLING SALTS {SALTS}<=>{SMELLING}

10 It can hold breakfast food for one - greasy pot originally lined with copper (6) EGGCUP {EG}{Gr...y}{CU}{Pot}

12 Opponents try drills. Many give up (4,5) L?S? H?A?T (Addendum - LOSE HEART - {LO{S,E{HEAR}T}See comments)

13 See 9A

14 Top trends in poems (4) ODES {mODES}

16 Temple town's function for a zealot (7) PURITAN {PURI}{TAN}

19 Obscure quotations seen in memes regularly (7) ECLIPSE {mE{CLIPS}mEs}

21 Panel changing sides in a month (4) JURY JU(-l+r)RY

24 Country's popular face left out (5) INDIA {IN}{DIAl}

25 Pin ads around a flyer (9) SAND PIPER {PIN+ADS}*{PER}

27 AI software not opening novel - it's an irritating problem (6) IRITIS {sIRI}{ITS*}

28 Primarily many people excited in arena, resulting in this? (8) STAMPEDE {STA{Many}{Pe...e}{Ex...d}DE} Semi&lit

29 One suffering hurt before try-out (6) MARTYR {MAR}{TRY*}

30 Woman is pinched by spoilt kid, most rude (8) BRASHEST   {BRA{SHE'S}T}

DOWN

1   Step dancing with extremely lovable crush (6) PESTLE {STEP*}{Lo...lE}

2   Doctored images revealing bias (6) AGEISM* 

3   Enrich soil greatly, taking in fertilisers essentially (5) MULCH {MU{f...iLi...s}CH}

4   Dismiss very stupid person in campaign (7) CANVASS {CAN}{V}{ASS}

6   Administrator is back, charged with direction to rule (9) REGISTRAR {R{E{GIST}RA<=}{R}Anno not clear (Addendum - {RE{GIST}{R}AR} - See comments)

7   Intensify police case, missing deadline (8) ESCALATE {CASE*}{LATE}

8   Showing ten pigeons flying all around (8) EXPOSING {E{X}POSING*}

11 Break small plaything (4) STOP {S}{TOP}

15 Evil God filled with power, chiefly crazy (9) DEPRAVITY {DE{PR}{crAzy}}ITY} (Correction - {DE{P}{RAVe}ITY} - See comments)

17 Idle vagrant, a bit intoxicated, overwhelmed by strange fever (8) DELIRIUM {IDLE*}{R{In...d}UM}

18 Glue dries for the most part, turning more muddy Glue mostly dries turning more muddy (8) SLUDGIER {GLUe+DRIES}*

20 Some require a strategic direction (4) EAST [T]

21 After a month, bread counter becomes cleaner (7) JANITOR {JAN}{ROTI<=}

22 Ball's area (6) SPHERE [DD]

23 Tune with hint of romance… girl starts crying (6) URGENT {TUNE+Ro...e+G}*

26 American uncle excited about cats (5) PUMAS {SAM}{UP}<=

Reference List

Opponents = S,E(South and East in Bridge card game), Function = TAN, Popular = IN, Very = V, Rule = R, Small = S, American uncle = SAM

No 14816, Wednesday 10 Jun 2026, Incognito

Solution to 8A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

8   Male took in conjugal partner (4) ?A?E (Addendum - MATE {M}{ATE} - See comments)

9   Asset that could be pieces of furniture (5) SEATS*

10 Part of church collapses to some extent (4) APSE [HIPS]

11 Who had changed seating equipment mounted on elephant? (6) HOWDAH*

12 Siblings, perhaps, trouble school head around start of recess (8) BROTHERS {B{Re...s}OTHER}{Sc...l}

13 Analysing quantity of arsenic, for example, in groundwater at first (8) ASSAYING {AS}{SAY}{IN}{Gr...r}

15 Ladies restated expected standards (6) IDEALS*

17 Check manufacture of pectins (7) INSPECT*

19/22 Old weapon found in Shakespearean plays (7,6) ANCIENT PISTOL {ANCIENT}{PISTOL}

24 Driving in absence of medico, following a Rolls Royce and coming (8) ARRIVING {drIVING}<=>{A}{RR}

26 Spotted animals tearing her pants (8) PANTHERS*

28 Stick electrical component (6) SWITCH [DD]

30 What a golfer might shout from a wooded area after losing some time initially? (4) FORE FOREst

31 Other actors seem to be deaf to this kind of dialogue (5) ASIDE [CD]

32 Warmth in the theatre (4) HEAT [HIPS]

DOWN

1   Destruction of shale oil after leaving isle produces ring of light (4) HALO {sHAle+OiL}*

2   Excitedly help Adam to get illumination for biker, for example (8) HEADLAMP*

3   It's him wandering around tombolos, for example (6) ISTHMI*

4   Vegetable produced by a couple of boys in Co-op (7) CABBAGE {C{A}{BB}AGE}

5   Stone thrown by Scotsman and North European (8) ESTONIAN {STONE*}{IAN}

6   Horrible shame! Purloining one golf club! (6) MASHIE {MASH{1}E*}

7   Employer's devious ruse (4) USER*

14 Transgression at top-class peninsula (5) SINAI {SIN}{A1}

16 Leader left 9 on return (5) LENIN {L}{NINE<=}

18 Sal cared about collapsed magma chambers (8) CALDERAS*

20 Iodine and vanadium found in damaged hinges and rails (8) INVEIGHS {I}{N{V}EIGHS*}

21 Legal action arising from bad awl and spades, for example (7) LAWSUIT {AWL*}{SUIT}

23 Tie broken teeth at beginning of ritual (6) TETHER {TEETH*}{Ri...l}

25 Duty schedule from hero's terrible (6) ROSTER [T]

27 Ace spinner on the summit (4) ATOP {A}{TOP}

29 Cove between last part of beach and a part of port (4)  CHAP {beaCH}{A}{Port}

Reference List

Male = M, Boys = B, Left = L, Ace = A

No 14815, Tuesday 09 Jun 2026, Incognito

Solution to 18D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

8   Music composer from Korba, Chhattisgarh (4) BACH [T]

9   Spanish mission that serves as a reminder of Texas Revolution in Mambalam office (5) ALAMO [T]

10 Egyptian goddess is going around South Island (4) ISIS {I{S}{I}S}

11 Shoot covers new season (6) SPRING {SPRI{N}G}

12 Getting tailless dog in south eastern corral (8) SECURING {SE}{CUr}{RING}

13 Hit wound violently in suspense story (8) WHODUNIT*

15 Get dressed, perhaps, and be Nero, fiddling... (6) ENROBE*

17 Most crazy to get a Chinese body part (7) STOMACH {MOST*}{A}{CH}

19 What a groom might get for painting once again? (3,4) NEW COAT [DD]

22 Marshal Omar carries word of peace (6) SHALOM [T]

24 So diesel may be converted into sources of cooking fat (8) OILSEEDS*

26 Person carrying one's moniker, but may be unrelated (8) NAMESAKE [CD]

28 Once saucy ace (6) EXPERT {EX}{PERT}

30 Neurologist possesses some continental currency (4) EURO [HIPS]

31 Street commonly mentioned by Perry Mason in model law (5) DELLA [T]

32 Place to buy half-shorts with Papa (4) SHOP {SHOrts}{P}

DOWN

1   Moist place to store water on top of pitcher (4) DAMP {DAM}{Pi...r}

2   OK, dimes are scattered around hotel in Arab chief's territory (8) SHEIKDOM {OK+DIMES}* over {H}

3   Gross profit from liquor after March, in short (6) MARGIN {GIN}{<=>{MARch}

4   King leaves baskets for son's dogs (7) BASSETS BAS(-k+s)SETS

5   Criminal on island produces building material (8) CONCRETE {CON}{CRETE}

6   One may reflect... MOM or MUM looks the same in this (6) MIRROR [DBE]

7   Logo in the heart of designer (4) SIGN [HIPS]

14 Jerk's tenure in America (5) HITCH [DD]

16 Snake on road panel (5) BOARD {BOA}{RD}

18 Orders, with new note on first of September (8) C?M?A?D? (Addendum - COMMANDS {COMMA}{N}{D}{Se...r} - See comments)

20 Least expensive animal in box (8) CHEAPEST {CHE{APE}ST}

21 Announcement made by tennis referee at beginning of match between belligerent players (4,3) LOVE ALL [CD]

23 Tell untruth before owl flies and go underground, perhaps (3,3) LIE LOW {LIE}{OWL*}

25 General method to get elbow room (6) LEEWAY {LEE}{WAY}

27 Be next to rejected musical instrument (4) ABUT<=

29 Moor is back in space (4) ROOM<=

Reference List

South = S, Island = I, New = N, South Eastern = SE, Chinese = CH, Papa = P, Hotel = H, King = K, Son = S, Road = RD, Note = D

No 14814, Monday 08 Jun 2026, Incognito

Solution to 10A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Local going after vehicle on highway from London to Leeds? It can lead to reduction in gas (11) CARMINATIVE {NATIVE}<=>{CAR}{M1}

9   Wife leaves lawyer's coat (5) LAYER LAwYER

10 Grand proposal to install gas lines to every house is fanciful thinking (4,5) P?P? D?E?M (Addendum - PIPE DREAM [C&DD] - See comments)

11 American consuming sodium first? Disgusting! (10) NAUSEATING {US}{EATING}<=>{NA}

12 Money held by masseur obtained (4) EURO [T]

13 Cut off from Chris Evert (5) SEVER {T]

15 Warped space on 1st for wool gatherer (8) ESCAPIST {SPACE}*{1ST}

17 Following friend, on this day, turning into a follower of an Oriental faith (8) BUDDHIST {BUD}{THIS+D}*

19 Pertaining to quality of sound arising from ventilator after losing rivet (5) TONAL {veNtiLATOr}*

22 Gas used in Cochrane, Ontario (4) NEON [T]

23 A kind of presentation for electrical socket (5,5) POWER POINT [DD]

26 So, large things are thrown with this (9) SLINGSHOT {SO+L+THINGS}* Semi&lit

27 Son has fun returning female's ground tobacco (5) SNUFF {S}{FUN<=}{F}

28 Point carton out to get device (11) CONTRAPTION*

DOWN

1   Rodent is shy at first, perhaps unsettled, for starters (5) COYPU {COY}{Pe...s}{Un...d}  

2   Are rather confused about metal not available in pure form in nature (4,5) RARE EARTH*

3   Start to produce units manufactured to make feedstocks (6) INPUTS {Pr...e+UNITS}*

4   Adds, "Badly snapped" (7) APPENDS*

5   Indian and Yankee in a motor sport (4) INDY {IND}{Y}

6   Entice ox running around university for performance (9) EXECUTION {ENTICE+OX}* over {U}

7   Throws fine fish on top of salver (6) FLINGS {F}{LING}{Sa...r}

8   Meaning: One drink, after commencement of May (6) IMPORT {1}{PORT}<=>{May}

14 Cod dives strangely consuming current media storage device (5,4) VIDEO DISC {COD+DIVES}* over {I}

16 A new advice: With Italian wine, for starters (9) ANTIPASTI {A}{N}{TIP}{ASTI}

17 In absence of war, brainwash distraught and exile (6) BANISH {BraINwASH}*

18 After school, parent gets choke (7) SMOTHER {S}{MOTHER}

20 The French aristocrat is pardoned (3,3) LET OFF {LE}{TOFF}

21 Rose, you and I punt badly (4,2) WENT UP {WE}{PUNT}*

24 Put in vase and badly ruin before noon (5) INURN {RUIN}*{N}

25 Against rebellious Anglican leaving clan (4) AGIN ANGlIcan*

Reference List

Wife = W, Day = D, Large = L, Son = S, Female = F, Yankee = Y, University = U, Fine = F, Current = I, New = N, School = S, The in French = LE, Noon = N

Special, Sunday 07 Jun 2026, Veeyares

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 59, Sunday 07 Jun 2026, Incognito

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

8   Power source in penitentiary (4) CELL [DD]

9   Love chasm that is egg shaped (5) OVOID {0}{VOID}

10 Cry at sea, perhaps, in Idaho yacht (4) AHOY [T]

11 Plane flying north carrying European (6) HORNET {HORN{E}T*}

12 Paddy, for example, for Hibernian (8) IRISHMAN {IRISH MAN}

13 At 10, Tod is confused... Look after... (6,2) ATTEND TO {AT}{TEN}{TOD*}

15 Bantu jumped around end of counter and produced headgear (6) TURBAN {TU{c...eR}BAN*}

17 Drop down, from bus reversing, at bank (7) SUBSIDE {BUS<=}{SIDE}

19 In middle of spilled diesel, blockhead produces eats (7) EDIBLES {EDI{Bl..k}LES*}

22 Excitedly praise Iran of yore (6) PERSIA*

24 A crime orchestrated by an inhabitant of the United States (8) AMERICAN {A}{CRIME*}{AN}

26 Mad red crone trapped (8) CORNERED*

28 Brags, “Starting to save in vessels” (6) BOASTS {BOA{Save}TS}

30 Nero fiddled in city (4) RENO*

31 Additional payment on us, boy, in the beginning (5) BONUS {ON}{US}<=>{B}

32 Clock face laid back (4) DIAL<=

DOWN

1   Over-riding power to change vote (4) VETO*

2   Bank lets manufacture warm covers (8) BLANKETS*

3   Robbed Theodore after John (6) LOOTED {TED}<=>{LOO}

4   Head boy rejected can in back-room (7) MONITOR {RO{TIN<=}OM<=}

5   Acknowledged, “Matt died horribly” (8) ADMITTED*

6   One accompanying Bolt is cleaner (6) WASHER [DD]

7   Adios! Leaving one and returning drink (4) SODA ADiOS<=

14 Correct about starting of ceasefire and suspension of hostilities (5) TRUCE {TRU{Ce...e}E}

16 Place to fight in region covering town at last (5) ARENA {ARE{towN}A}

18 Rant, “Aid biter? That’s silly!” (8) DIATRIBE*

20 Bandits and groups capturing capital endlessly (8) BRIGANDS {B{RIGa}ANDS}

21 Young females... they may be bowled by bowlers (7) MAIDENS [DD}

23 One, sir, may be an aged person (6) SENIOR*

25 Stamp showing Bond’s boss, I hear, with chief (6) EMBOSS {(~m)EM}{BOSS}

27 Unlock duck corral (4) OPEN {O}{PEN}

29 RIP... One may drop this on someone’s death... (4) TEAR [DD]

 

Reference List

European = E, Boy = B, John = LOO

No 14813, Saturday 06 June 2026, Incognito

 ACROSS
8 Damage hot weapon (4) HARM {H}{ARM}
9 Ms Lamb has right to get hitched (5) MARRY MAR{R}Y
10 Swear in Damascus, Syria (4) CUSS [T]
11 Silly ass takes a moment to get a snack (6) SAMOSA {ASS}* around {A}{MO} Reminded of Dr. Gayatri

12 Tense, perhaps, before sire manufactured baked goods (8) PASTRIES {PAST}{SIRE*}

13 Sculpture tray at US building (8) STATUARY*
15 Convent head hugs boys in entrance after Catholics leave (6) ABBESS A(-cc+BB)BBESS
17 Author Pearl protects a couple of students with love for animal (7) BULLOCK BU{LL O}CK
19 Start from actor Kelly and sister (7) GENESIS {GENE}{SIS}
22 Small ring of light accompanied Mike's greeting (6) SHALOM {S}{HALO}{M}
24 One parliamentarian wandered and got better (8) IMPROVED {I}{MP}{ROVED}
26 Around end of March, aide with lawmaker gets permit to produce tract (8) PAMPHLET {PA}{MP}{marcH}{LET}
28 Code creator takes large bite of food (6) MORSEL {MORSE}{L}
30 Repeat twice, "Extinct creature" (4) DODO {DOx2}

31 The driver is unable to steer this mode of transport (5) TRAIN [CD]
32 Animal sound from Anantapur region (4) PURR [T]

DOWN
1 Information from armada taped (4) DATA [T]
2 Eternally living tailor stitched around a small measure of length (8) IMMORTAL {TAILOR}* around {MM}
3 Alcoholics Anonymous accepts minced lamb in city (6) AMBALA {AA} around {LAMB*}
4 Drunken sapper going around end of July settles dues in advance (7) PREPAYS {SAPPER}* around {julY}
5 Wrongly see heady cosmetic (8) EYESHADE*
6 Beetle disturbs a crab after commencement of sunset (6) SCARAB {A CRAB}*<=>{Sunset}

7 Insular land in Memphis leased (4) ISLE [T]
14 Feel model accompanied by cry (5) TOUCH {T}{OUCH}
16 Point at small picture by European showing flavouring substance (5) SPICE {S}{PIC}{E}
18 Utter, "Finish" (8) COMPLETE [DD]
20 Silly herpetologists dropping hotels in displays of narcissism (3,5) EGO TRIPS {heRPEtolOGIsTS}*
21 Michigan salt spread around top of rim gives wind! (7) MISTRAL {MI}{SALT* around Rim}
23 Friend returns, rejecting god, to become subservient person (6) LAPDOG {PAL<}{GOD<}
25 Maiden in erstwhile Pune is a Greek goddess (6) POMONA {PO{M}ONA}

27 River covered by Miroslav Ondricek (4) AVON [T]
29 Cad going away from Ecuador counterfeiting money (4) EURO {EcUadOR}*

REFERENCE LIST

Hot=H, Right=R, Moment=Mo, Boy=B, Catholic=C, Sister=Sis, Small=S, Mike=M, One=1=I, Parliamentarian=MP, Aide=PA (Personal Assistant), Large=L, Small measure of length=mm (millimetre), Alcoholic Anonymous=AA, Model=T, Point=S (South or any of the four points in a magnetic compass North, South, East or West ), Michigan=MI, Maiden=M.