No 14742, Monday 16 Mar 2026, Saral

Solution to 14A 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

7   Crowded square got hotter (7) SWARMED {S}{WARMED}

8   Entry of a tax including charges primarily (6) ACCESS {A}{CESS} over {Ch...s}

9   Girl disheartened by long problem (6) GLITCH {GirL}{ITCH}

10 Playing shloka, initially bhajan at house (3,5) LOK SABHA {SHLOKA}*{Bh...n}{At}

11 Gangster controlling English reporters (international) in valley (10) DEPRESSION {D{E}{PRESS}{I}ON} 

13 Repaired sherwani, every now and then (4) SEWN {ShErWaNi}

14 Nearly squeeze large plant (4) ?I?L ()

16 Almost escape running in gap (5) SPACE ESCAPe*

18 Team leaders from several industrial departments enter (4) SIDE Acrostic

19 Shortly examine stable (4) STUD STUDy

21 Native sailor fixing an oil rig (10) ABORIGINAL {AB}{AN+OIL+RIG}

23 Fellow least bothered about one Victor in party (8) FESTIVAL {F}{EST{1}{V}AL*}

25 Creating new image for riddle (6) ENIGMA {N+IMAGE}*

26 Leave power grabbing society (6) RESIGN {RE{S}IGN}

27 Golden brown durians at first in fruit garden (7) ORCHARD {OR}{CHAR}{Du...n}

DOWN

1   Finished a type of exam relating to rural life (8) PASTORAL {PAST}{ORAL}

2   Stress from mishaps sadly after drug (8) EMPHASIS {MISHAPS}*<=>{E}

3   Heroine is dancing only lambada from the beginning (4) IDOL Acrostic

4   Knocked over container, spilling ink? Getting towel (6) NAPKIN {PAN<=}{INK*}

5   Drops fights (6) SCRAPS [DD]

6   Avoided shredded cheese with salad in the end (8) ESCHEWED {CHEESE+W}}*{s..aD}

7   Perhaps loves to answer (5) SOLVE*

12 Harry hid a ring in this place (5) IDAHO {HID+A}*{O}

15 Banks essentially tried badly to catch that man owing money (2,3,3) IN THE RED {baNks+TRIED}* over {HE}

17 Height of wall not fine outside pit (8) EMINENCE {fE{MINE}NCE}

18 Mark covering object below one master's weapon (8) SCIMITAR {SCAR} over {IT}<=>{1}{M}

20 Check and tie roughly (6) DETAIN*

21 Arrival of a director before opening (6) ADVENT {A}{D}{VENT}

22 Targeted media by mistake (5) AIMED*

24 John finally left stolen goods (4) LOOT {LOO}{lefT}

Reference List

Square = S, English = E, Sailor = AB, Fellow = F, Victor = V, New = N, Society = S, Drug = E, With = W, Master = M, Director = D, John = LOO