No 14798, Wednesday 20 May 2026, Gussalufz

Solution to 28A 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.

FIVE FIRSTS

ACROSS

1   I.A.S.-mess-rejected paneer is cooked for groom (5) PREEN {PaNEER+is}*

4   Think, essentially during rehabilitating, dad's peer lost hope (9) DESPAIRED {thInk}* in {DADS+PEER}*

9   Therefore, time to get into fried roti and rice dish (7) RISOTTO {SO}{T} in {ROTI}*

10 I caught hint of lightheartedness in tear-jerking piece (7) ARTICLE {ART{I}{C}{Li...s}E*}

11 "Am like this" statement of kinky person's sex life (4-10) SELF-EXPRESSION {PERSONS+SEX+LIFE}* {PERSONS+SEX+LIFE}*

12 Has secretly grown stronger (4) OWNS [T]

13 Internal communication terminals? Never send shocking letters (5,4) NERVE ENDS*

17 Brought balance to English squad? Lie, unfortunately (9) EQUALISED {E}{SQUAD+LIE}*

19 So savage, revolting! (4) ERGO<=

22 Typical daily routine, retired father's habit (14) CHARACTERISTIC {CHAR}{ACT}{SIRE<=}{TIC}

25 Muslim League Dr. regularly rejected separation theory? (7) DUALISM {MuSlIm+LeAgUe+Dr}<=

26 Call mum, son's misbehaving (7) SUMMONS*

27 Thought Tendulkar initially did umpiring all around (9) MEDITATED {MEDI{Te...r}ATED}

28 Jam? Badgers not sure (5) P?E?S (Addendum - PRESS PRESsureS - See comments)

DOWN

1   Whisper: "Is cop ethically carrying navy instrument?" (9) PERISCOPE [T]

2   Greek character cycled solo, drinking sip after exercising (7) EPSILON {(+e)ELON(-e)} over {SIP}*

3   Tune cocktail, adding minute bit of ground spice (6) NUTMEG {TUNE}* over {M} and {Gr...d}

4   Dung drips, pong spreads (9) DROPPINGS*

5   Film mount (5) SCALE [DD]

6   Cadet, set target somewhat westward; confirmed? (8) ATTESTED [T<=]

7   Nocturnal creature gallivanting on a croc (7) RACCOON*

8   Outstanding tenor song (4) DUET {DUE}{T}

14 Put right colour on unfinished sweet after flipping (9) REDRESSED {RED}{DESSERt<=}

15 Arrays of small pipes constraining toilet area (9) SHOWCASES {S}{HO{WC}{A}SES}

16 Philanthrope, gangster, one inspired by faith (8) ALTRUIST {AL}{TRU{1}ST}

18 Never listened to you (reportedly) and her frolicking (7) UNHEARD {(~you)U)(AND+HER}*

20 Fury wife unleashed on staff, blowing top for dirty room (7) RATHOLE {wRATH}{pOLE}

21 Stabilise tree stump, cutting 40% off (4,2) FIRM UP {FIR}{stUMP}*

23 Around peak of Olympus, encountered heavenly sight (5) COMET {C}{Ol...s}{MET}

24 Feature gains depth deleting tense reference entry (4) IDEM I(+d-t)DEM

Reference List

Time = T, English = E, Minute = M, Tenor = T, Small = S, Toilet = WC, Area = A, Gangster = AL(Capone), Wife = W, Around = C, Depth = D, Tense = T