No 14833, Tuesday 30 Jun 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 6D 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

7   Protagonist nicked addictive substance (6) HEROIN {HEROINe}

8   To begin with wonderful, obviously original display - warm, opulently rich Kashmiri-style carpentry (8) WOODWORK Acrostic

9   Bill breaking free of compulsive behaviours and expressions (8) DICTIONS adDICTIONS

10 Declares: "Pixie Dust dividing shell money!" (6) CLAIMS {CLA{I}MS}

11 Fictional miser losing love for a French bum (8) SCROUNGE SCRO(-o+un)UNGE

12 To a certain extent felt sensually repelled in snuggle (6) NESTLE [T<=]

13 The 'MACS' repeatedly played tournaments? (4,7) TEST MATCHES {THE+MACS}* Letter Bank

18 Fictional detective's biographer, as per reports questioned boy (6) WATSON (~what son)

20 Vision I quote in conversation (8) EYESIGHT {I}{(~cite)SIGHT}

22 Some misread her enchantment for Bond (6) ADHERE [T]

23 Can this masquerader redesign a crimson top? (8) IMPOSTOR {IMPOSTOR+CAN}*=A CRIMSON TOP [CA]

24 Authentic, clear garlic soup without traces of olives and parsley (8) SURGICAL {GARLIC+SoUp}*

25 Blue-collar worker from Colombo will binge every now and then (6) COOLIE {ColOmbO+wiLl+bIngE}

DOWN

1   Spooner says: "The rest and I talk behind their back entrance!" (7) BEWITCH (~we bitch to bewitch)

2   Open spot? Perhaps take a rain check! (8) POSTPONE*

3   Native of Banjarmasin, Borneo (6) INBORN [T]

4   Stuck-up Dominic in a clover, exposed and dangerous (8) VOLCANIC [T<=]

5   Hits outside net essentially and panics (6) SWEATS {SW{nEt}ATS}

6   Member cycling around strange black object (7) ?R?M?L? (Addendum - GRUMBLE {(+g)GLE(-g)} over {RUM}{B} - See comments)

8   Let Maria refuse! (5,8) WASTE MATERIAL {MARIA+LET}* [RA]

14 Drive nurse to Easthampton on vacation with Charlie Yen (8) TENDENCY {TEND}{Ea...oN}{C}{Y}

15 Release young girl endlessly overwhelmed by mounting racket (8) EMISSION {MISs} in {NOISE<=}

16 Honesty from John Grim (7) CANDOUR {CAN}{DOUR}

17 Deranged gossip about Oscar I see in texting (7) CHAOTIC {CHA{O}T}{I}{(~see)C}

19 Delivered butcher's toboggan (6) SLEIGH (~slay)

21 Imagine master having no right adopting canine (6) EXPECT EXPE(-r+c)CT

Reference List

Bill = AD, A in French = UN, Strange = RUM, Black = B, Charlie = C, Yen = Y, John = CAN, Oscar = O, Right = R, Canine = C

No 14832, Monday 29 Jun 2026, Pixie Dust

Solution to 3D 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   Perhaps the curt city folk (6) ETHNIC {THE*}{NICe} 

5   Drug seller is quick covering damage (8) PHARMACY {P{HARM}ACY}

9   Clueless Inspector General's tirade overwhelming new officer at first (8) IGNORANT {IG}{RANT} over {N}{Of...r}

10 Is this creator redesigning pantries? (6) PARENT {PARENT+IS}=PANTRIES [CA]

11 Surprisingly, strange associate quits subsequently in support (10) STRENGTHEN {STRaNGE}*{THEN}

12 Member cycling around a storm (4) GALE {(+g)GLE(-g)} over {A}

13 Like a stag, colony resident ogled - abandoning last trace of shame (8) ANTLERED {ANT}{LEeRED}

16 Hence the French people, heartless and glum (6) SOLEMN {SO}{LE}{MeN}

17 Florida completes uniformly chosen constructions (6) FRAMES {FloRidA+coMplEteS}

19 Most insensitive subset to bust (8) OBTUSEST*

21 Magnificent huskies smuggled in this manner (4) THUS [T]

22 Quarrelsome Finny ruled out (10) UNFRIENDLY*

25 Character without bit of loyalty and grace (6) FAVOUR FlAVOUR

26 In comparison, some vital errands partly withdrawn (8) RELATIVE [T<=]

27 Anxious playing drest repeatedly? (8) STRESSED DREST* [Letter Bank]

28 Come, rise, dance exhibiting revolutionary passion (6) DESIRE [T<=]

DOWN

2   Close tense contest! Missed the beginning (5) TIGHT {T}{fIGHT}

3   Discovered snoop uses net (5) N?O?E (Addendum - NOOSE {sNOOp}{uSEs} - See comments)

4   German supporting family blunder (7) CLANGER {GER}<=>{CLAN}

5   Spotted Penny at church with journalist (7) PATCHED {P}{AT}{CH}{ED}

6   A lecturer flags plants (7) ALPINES {A}{L}{PINES} 

7   Bloomers from post-graduate doctor and grey-haired saint (9) MARIGOLDS {MA}{RIG}{OLD}{S}

8   Wild dance around large infinite pole in Christian festival (9) CANDLEMAS {CAND{L}E*}{MASt}

14 Point of Mathematician or the astronomer (9) NORTHEAST [T]

15 Rock's tipping point, Mark switching places with Lira (9) LIMESTONE (-m+l)LI(-l+m)MESTONE

18 Son leaves carrying revolver finally and shoots (7) SQUIRTS {S}{QUI{r...eR{TS}

19 Advanced deer? (7) OFFERED {DEER}* [RA]

20 Delighted Henry quit and laughed in a high-pitched voice (7) TRILLED ThRILLED

23 Records Spooner's accents (5) NOTES (tones to notes}

24 Celebrate climbing bar (5) LEVER<=

Reference List

New = N, Associate = A, The in French = LE, Tense = T, Penny = P, Church = CH, Journalist = ED(Editor), Lecturer = L, Post-Graduate = MA< Saint = S, Large = L, Mark = M, Lira = L, Son = S, Henry = H

Special, Sunday 28 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)

Grid will be updated with solutions at 8 PM.

Starred Clues are themed and do not have a definition.

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 62, Sunday 28 Jun 2026, Arden

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

9   A book on coffee - review gets backing (7) ABETTAL {A}{B}{LATTE<=}

10 Point to follow - Harry and you, find some capital (7) YAOUNDE {E} after {AND+YOU}*

11 Slight shortage in hormone (7) INSULIN {INSULt}{IN}

12 Boy describes map of Northern Finland (7) LAPLAND {LA{PLAN}D}

13 Intended to raise, stole a vehicle (9) CARJACKED {CAR{JACK}ED}

15 Aversion for a cricket match - strange to get run out (5) ODIUM {ODI}{rUM}

16 Haunt as hood grabs a part (7) HABITAT {H{A}{BIT}AT}

19 Taken in by a small glove (7) SMITTEN {S}{MITTEN}

20 Caught in a dire situation - it's rock bottom (5) NADIR [T]

21 Resolve matter, or block departure from port (9) ROTTERDAM {MATTER+OR}* over {D}

25 Plant loaded only on west-bound donkey (7) OREGANO {O}{ONAGER<=}

26 The elderly accommodated in a big room with luggage (7) HOLDALL {H{OLD}ALL}

28 See love rejected - it's not a pretty sight (7) EYESORE {EYE}{EROS<=}

29 Copying model on the tracks, say (7) TRACING {T}{RACING}

DOWN

1   America in a mess - set up somewhat by a crazy guy (6) MANIAC [T<=]

2   Drinks beer regularly in a promotional video (6) TEASER {TEAS}{bEeR}

3   Part of retaliation among others (2,2) ET AL [HIPS]

4   Scientist's design check - ignoring insiders (6) PLANCK {PLAN}{Ch.cK}

5   Spins around 2 Greek islands (8) CYCLADES {CYCL{AD}ES}

6   Give and take income - dance is held (10) COMPROMISE {COM{PROM}{IS}E}

7   Girl's inclination for a historian (8) ANNALIST {ANNA}{LIST}

8   Macho males eat radish regularly and keep an eye on their stock (8) HERDSMEN {HE MEN} over {RaDiSh}

14 A torn piece of electrical machinery? (10) ALTERNATOR {A+TORN}* [RA]

16 German city acquiring middle age relic (8) HANGOVER {HAN{aGe}OVER}

17 Harried for special grade lying down (8) BADGERED {GRADE}* in {BED}

18 Nips yield (8) TURNOVER  (spin/turn over)

22 It comes up around a very popular place in South Pacific (6) TAHITI {IT<=} over {A}{HIT}

23 Consists of two parts - dreamy and idyllic from all sides... (6) DYADIC {Dr..mY}{AnD}{Id...iC}

24 ...Informal again in the south of Spain (6) MALAGA [T]

27 Lift bar for a teller of tales (4) LIAR<=

Reference List

Book = B, Point = E, Run = R, Small = S, Departure = D, Only = O, Model = T, Dance = PROM 

No 14831, Saturday 27 June 2026, Saral

 ACROSS
7 Pulling out note from friendly resident (6) INMATE {INtiMATE}
8 Unmarried woman turns model with hesitation (8) SPINSTER {SPINS}{T}{ER}
9 Arrive outside hospital rooms maybe to get cell component (10) CHROMOSOME {COME} around {H}{ROOMS*}

10 Reverend hiding? Always (4) EVER [HIPS]
11 Divine food aroma is spreading across centre of lobby (8) AMBROSIA {AROMA IS}* around {loBby}

12 Short memo with a line to legal official (6) NOTARY {NOTe}{A}{RY}
13 Figure of a large map? Roll out (13) PARALLELOGRAM*

16 Mostly enjoyable movie before outing (6) PICNIC {NICe}<=>{PIC}
18 Promote old exercise followed by revised diet (8) EXPEDITE {EX}{PE}{DIET*}
21 Support boy's every achievement mainly from the beginning (4) BEAM [Acrostic]

22 Dazzling writer trips on trail, reportedly (10) IRIDESCENT {I}{RIDES}{CENT(~SCENT)}
23 Mark covering conservative's attitude in alliance (8) MARRIAGE {(+M-c)MARRIAGE}
24 Plenty of soldiers caught in tornado (6) GALORE {GAL{OR}E}

DOWN
1 Song from soldier near border (6) ANTHEM {ANT}{HEM}
2 Worker with drunk rep leaving beer parlour, collapsed (8) LABOURER {BEer pARLOUR}*
3 Tempts company into manufacturing dyes (6) DECOYS {DE{CO}YS*}
4 Government order stalling fresh invite to surrender (4,2,2) GIVE IN TO {G{INVITE*}O}
5 Republican occupying property in state (6) ASSERT {ASSE{R}T}
6 Message group about member rioting initially (8) TELEGRAM {TEAM} around {LEG}{Rioting}

8 Get cover ideas perhaps for CD,say (7,6) STORAGE DEVICE*
13 Cost of carpeting changed, nothing new (5,3) PRICE TAG {CARPETInG}*

14 Liberal, a culprit without home causing tears (8) LACRIMAL {L}{A}{CRIMinAL}
15 Mock clear-headed Irish backing English (8) RIDICULE {LUCID+IR}<{E}
17 Moron abused drug, passed away (2,4) NO MORE {MORON}*{E}
19 Promise of ultimately top school with advantage (6) PLEDGE {toP}{schooL}{EDGE}
20 Fish eating doctor in plain (6) TUNDRA {TUN{DR}A}

REFERENCE LIST

Note=Ti, Model=T, Hesitation=ER Hospital=H, Line=RY, Old=Ex, Exercise=PE, Writer=I, Mark=M, Conservative=C, Soldiers=OR (Other Ranks), Soldier=Ant, Company=CO, Government Order=GO, Republican=R, New=N, Liberal=L, Irish=IR, English=E, Drug=Ecstasy=E, Doctor=Dr.

No 14830, Friday 26 Jun 2026, Karaoke

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   Leading saint leaves for cold basement (6) CELLAR (-st+c)CELLAR

4   He works during strike at beck and call exceptionally? Good, drop case first (8) BLACKLEG {BECK+cALL}*{G}

9   Discover the truth about doctor breaking law (6) RUMBLE {RU{MB}LE}

10 Sovereign force breathes fresh air (8) IMPERIAL {IMPE{AIR*}L}

12 Nobody gets air in the fiasco (3-5) NON-EVENT {NONE}{VENT}

13 Supermarkets without essential stock? Get major sales force (6) STRESS {SToRES}{Sa..s}

15 Burned earth at war? That's a rumour (11) UNDERBREATH*

18 Giving sweetheart to do something dishonest together? (4,2,5) HAND IN GLOVE {HANDING}{LOVE}

21 Complains of navigation aid getting weird (6) GRUMPS {G{RUM}PS}

22 Sweeper hugs everyone in the dancing hall (8) BALLROOM {B{ALL}ROOM}

24 Bad dolls sorted out in basket cases (8) ODDBALLS*

25 Take a break Johnson! Make a short visit (4,2) LOOK IN {LOO}{KIN}

26 Saddened about the situations offering no progress (4-4) DEAD-ENDS*

27 Pursues vigorously without eccentricity and holds power unjustly (6) USURPS {PURSUeS}*

DOWN

1   It is very hard to solve conundrum without essential hints (8) CORUNDUM CONUnDRUM*

2   Money shortly exchanged in shady deal for something juicy (8) LEMONADE {L{MONEy*}ADE*}

3   Help a voter primarily with electoral process in a state of disorder (3,4,3,5) ALL OVER THE PLACE {HELP+A+Vo..r+ELECTORAL}*

5   Branch is in a state of neglect without chief officer (4) LIMB LIMBo

6   Primarily Lower House got the case law modified to free someone from hanging (5,3,7) CHEAT THE GALLOWS {Lo..r+H+GOT+THE+CASE+LAW}*

7   Worker interchanges tabletop with laptop in lounge! (6) LOITER (-t+l)LOI(-l+t)TER

8   Girl over-used overshoe? (6) GALOSH {GAL}{O}{SH}

11 It definitely disturbs others when smartphone primarily kept on silent mode (7) SNORING {Sm...e}{NO RING}

14 Bowler perhaps covers a part in home ground (7) HABITAT {H{A}{BIT}AT}

16 Associate from Moscow or Kerala (2-6) CO-WORKER [T]

17 Better half is without end (8) TERMINUS {betTER}{MINUS}

19 Leaders rejected salary freeze that existed for a long time (3-3) AGE-OLD {wAGE}{hOLD}

20 Headless insensitive person goes back, it's plain (6) TUNDRA hARDNUT<=

23 It cuts short a sample of promotional book (6) BLAD BLADe

Reference List

Saint = ST, Cold = C, Good = G, John = LOO, Eccentricity = E, House = H, Over = O, Used = SH(Second hand)

No 14829, Thursday 25 Jun 2026, Gussalufz

Solution to 2D 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.

NICE PAIN

ACROSS

1   Workers laid off? Tad fishy (3,5) DAY SHIFT*

6   Ignore outrageous abyss next to eastern edge of camp (4,2) PASS BY {ABYSS}*<=>{camP}

9   The two of us texted for dinner options? (4) MENU (~ ME 'N U}

10 Bali trek is tailor-made for rugged two-wheelers (5,5) TRAIL BIKES*

11 Straight storyteller capturing fringes of lesbian lore (6) LINEAR {LI{l...aN}{lorE}AR}

12 Detective probing American dude's murder (8) HOMICIDE {HOMI{CID}E}

13 Om: "I bit mice, dubiously imitating nature" (10) BIOMIMETIC*

15 Gussalufz accompanying gangster for lunch? (4) MEAL {ME}{AL}

17 Unchanged support after leader's ouster (2,2) AS IS bASIS

18 Son, sleep long on ship, for energy (10) SNAPPINESS {S}{NAP}{PINE}{SS}

20 Antelope ecosystem buckled after all-round grazing (8) STEMBUCK [T] Couldn't find this spelling anywhere

22 Spicy stew leads to rectal agony (painful inflammation) (6) RAGOUT {Re...l}{Ag..y}{GOUT}

24 Young abstainers, taking off clothes, give up and loudly dance on ecstasy (4,2,4) BAND OF HOPE {aBANDOn}{F}{HOP}{E}

26 Head priest dined (4) PATE {Pr...t}{ATE}

27 Party offering to preserve copy (6) CANAPE {CAN}{APE}

28 Grasshoppers returned regularly, used midday attacks (8) KATYDIDS {uSeD+mIdDaY+aTtAcKs}<=

DOWN

2   Rampant tantrum and rage in resort, for starters (9) A?E?I?I?S (Addendum - APERITIFS {S{FIT}{IRE}PA}<= - See comments)

3   A brute, lacking limits in behaviour, goes after small fry (5)  SAUTE {A}{brUTE}<=>{S}

4   Acting in period features (international) (7) INTERIM {IN TER{I}M}

5   Half of trailer cut for interval (3) TEA TEAser

6   European with microphone, offering contentious argument (7) POLEMIC {POLE}{MIC}

7   Train workers to crawl through hairy mews with caution, ultimately (9) SWITCHMEN {ITCH}* in {MEWS*}{c...oN} 

8   Badaam at first, then take paratha? (5) BREAD {Ba...m}{READ}

12 Ah, turning pitch, where some bowlers might be rested (7) HATRACK {AH<=}{TRACK}

14 Indian state in upheaval around healthcare staff cut: news outlets (4,5) MASS MEDIA {ASSAM<=} over {MEDIcs}

16 Like the middle of hamburger slices—seasoned and battered (9) ASSAULTED {AS}{SA{h..bUr..r}LTED}

18 Very upset, not right dish (7) SOUFFLE {SO}{rUFFLE}

19 A fine, extremely encyclopedic Essence of Anatomy textbook (7) PERFECT {PER}{F}{En...iC}{anaTomy}

21 ChatGPT, possibly possessed by craftiness, goes overboard; this might go over one's head (5) TIARA {AR{AI}T}<=

23 Road-racing? A pedestrian crossing sides stared in shock (5) GAPED [T]

25 Steep drop terminal for Christmas tree (3) OAK sOAK

Reference List

Gangster = AL(Capone), Son = S, Ship = SS, Loudly = F, Ecstasy = E, Small = S, Right = R, Fine = F

No 14828, Wednesday 24 Jun 2026, Avtaar

Solution to 22D 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   Propose checking new inspector's authority (6) PUNDIT {PU{N}{DI}T}

5   Trainer given key after dropping institute's driver (8) COACHMAN {COACH}{MAiN}

9   Land in Vakola is dug up (8) SLOVAKIA*

10 Solid brown on tail of cat (6) TRUSTY {RUSTY}<=>{caT}

11 Perjury of leader being laid out in public? (5,2,5) LYING IN STATE {LYING}{IN}{STATE}

13 Force Republican to give up seat for head of party (4) PUMP (-r+p)PUMP

14 Weakened disoriented side badly losing final (8) DISABLED {SIDE+BADLy}* 

17 Fear of extremely unusual strains in water-clover, for example (4-4) FOUR-LEAF {FEAR+OF+Un...aL}*

18 Harry lying about stealing Avtaar's earnings (4) GAIN {N{I}AG<=}

20 Repetition by initially accentuating leading letter-sounds (12) ALLITERATION {ITERATION}<=>{Ac...g}{Le...g}{Le...r} &lit

23 Regressive characters facing extremely violent sexual attachment change over time (6) EVOLVE {Ex...y}{Vi...t}{LOVE}<=

24 Earlier introduction of tax ruined neighbourhood shop (8) RETAILER {EARLIER+Tax}*

25 Judge, say, with a vacuous look clumsily crosses in a carefree manner (8) JAYWALKS {J}{SAY+W+A+LooK}*

26 Where you find environs for Pranayama, invoking a deity (6) PAGODA {Pr...mA} over {A}{GOD} Semi&lit

DOWN

2   Mostly unpleasant taste of imported fruit (4) UGLI {UGLy}{Im...d}

3   Real estate magnate's daughter constantly implicating staff in retreat (9) DEVELOPER {D}{EV{POLE<=}ER}

4   Every now and then Yankee engages in money fraud (4-2) TAKE-IN {T{yAnKeE}IN}

5   One working for a mission from Africa has freed Government in trouble (6,9) CHARGE D'AFFAIRES*

6   A cut gem's placed on hard floor (8) ASTONISH {A}{STONe}{IS}{H}

7   Ferret circling a resort (5) HAUNT {H{A}UNT}

8   Opposition is hesitant when challenged (10) ANTITHESIS*

12 Further stay set up by old European state (10) YUGOSLAVIA {ALSO}{GUY}<={VIA}

15 Start batting at first, say, when given a stint at the crease (9) BEGINNING {Ba...g}{EG}{INNING}

16 Erotic film on email oddly missing essence of sex (8) VENEREAL {VENeER}{EmAiL}

19 Excellent weed raised at the bottom of elevated mine (6) TIPTOP {POT<=}<=>{PIT<=}

21 Relative's smart act (2-3) IN-LAW {IN}{LAW}

22 Randy's lodge, almost fully erected (4) ?E?D (Addendum - LEWD DWELl <= - See comments)

Reference List

New = N, Inspector = DI(Detective Inspector), Institute = I, Republican = R, Judge = J, Daughter = D, Hard = H, Stay = GUY 

No 14827, Tuesday 23 Jun 2026, Bruno

Solution to 12A 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

6   Hot girl turning reddish brown (5) HENNA {H}{ANNE<=}

7   In general, no shopping centre accepts rupee, yen (8) NORMALLY {NO}{R}{MALL}{Y}

10 Yard in Burj building - clumsy fellow's death sentence could be pronounced there (4,3) JURY BOX {JUR{Y}B*}{OX}

11 Walk gently to right and meet the Creator - get taken aback! (7) DOGTROT {TO}{RT}{GOD}<=

12 Agree and support one being fired for offence (7) C?N?O?M (Addendum - CONFORM CONF(-i+o)ORM - See comments)

13 Pedal furiously to reach a gallery finally - it doesnt come around often (4,3) LEAP DAY {PEDAL}*{A}{g...rY}

14 After party, bulk ice melted around front half of quad very fast (6-5) DOUBLE-QUICK {DO}{BULK+ICE}* over {QUad}

19 Hot sauce is revolting and bland (7) INSIPID {IN}{DIP+IS<=}

21 Beneficiary's story buried in gets a cable carrying energy close to home (7) ALIENEE {A{LIE}N}{E}{homE} What's the role of 'cable'?

23 Swimming waterhole - a lake draining towards which place (7) WHERETO WaTERHOlE*

25 Setter's facing same-old deadlock (7) IMPASSE {I'M}{PASSE}

26 King hiding in some old, rundown hut sheltering with gratitude (5,3) THANK YOU {AN{K}Y}{O} in {HUT}*

27 Genetically modified organism fitted with independent unknown device (5) GIZMO {G{I}{Z}MO}

DOWN

1   Radical infiltrating worker association along with journalist's not smooth (8) UNIRONED {UNI{R}ON}{ED}

2   Graduate gets little of meal, majority of liquor and grass (6) BAMBOO {BA}{Meal}{BOOze}

3   New dune buggy to carry old, fat, & short (10) UNEXAMPLED {DUNE}* over {EX}{AMPLe}

4   Urge support when Portugal's run over by Dutch (4) PROD {P}{R}{O}{D}

5   Federal organization banned English trouser style (6) FLARED FEDeRAL*

6   Terrible fellow chasing hot one with force (6) HIJACK {JACK}<=>{H}{1}

8   Media, finally following American soldier who captured Chinese and another Asian (7) AFGHANI {m..iA}{F}{G{HAN}I}

9   Without hint of fuss, FDA banned transporting deathly chemical group (5) ETHYL dEaTHLY*

13 Brief noise from duck in oil soup at sea, initially plaintive, disappearing, becoming chattering (10) LOQUACIOUS {QUACk} in {OIL+SOUp}*

15 Youngster chasing referee's relatively large (7) UMPTEEN {TEEN}<=>{UMP}

16 Big kitchen - cook sizing one end for rotisserie (4-4) KING-SIZE {K}{SIZING}*{r...rE}

17 Opinions compete with science, basically (5) VIEWS {VIE}{W}{Sc...e}

18 Different man wrote translation while off work (6) HETERO {HE}{wROTE}*

20 Look at the storm! (6) SEETHE {SEE}{THE}

22 Attack independent politician with gun sneakily (6) IMPUGN {I}{MP}{GUN*}

24 Black animal going around American city (4) ONYX {O{NY}X}

Reference List

Hot = H, Rupee = R, Yen = Y, Yard = Y, Right = RT, Party = DO, Hot = IN, Energy = E, Lake = L, King = K, Old = O, Independent = I, Unknown = Z, Radical = R, Journalist = ED, Old = EX, Portugal = P, Run = R, Over = O, Dutch = D, English = E, Chinese = HAN, Kitchen = K, With = W

No 14826, Monday 22 Jun 2026, Hypatia

Solution to 16A 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   Pick up spot for fish (6) PLAICE (~place)

4   Events from India captured in records and poems (8) EPISODES {EP{I}S}{ODES}

9   Most terrible blight initially seen in low grass (6) BAMBOO {BAd}{M{Bl...t}OO}

10 One popping a question in favour of sitter (8) PROPOSER {PRO}{POSER}

11 Singer abroad did release heavy metal covers (7,7) FREDDIE MERCURY {FRE{DID*}E}{MERCURY}

13 Dismissed and sued her (7,3) USHERED OUT {SUED+HER}* [RA]

14 Starts to accept transactions through Amazon for staple food (4) ATTA Acrostic

16 Collector's item from foundation returned on time (4) D?B? (Addendum - DEBT - {BED<=}{T} - See comments)

18 Reverend asked to label a pretty girl's trinkets (10) BAGATELLES (tag a belles to bagatelles)

21 Squeal with rum or pleasing cocktail (9,5) SINGAPORE SLING {SING}{OR+PLEASING}*

23 Say men from the East bored by English book on nuclear physicist (8) ROENTGEN {EG}{OR}<= over {E}{NT} then {N}

24 Secure link (6) ATTACH [DD]

25 Rejects vitamin given to biased patients regularly (8) DISDAINS {D}{bIaSeD+pAtIeNtS}

26 Overhead ventilation surrounding entrance (6) ADVENT [T]

DOWN

1   Excited about starters from Bengaluru's sushi bars (4) PUBS {UP<=}{Ba...s}{Su..i}

2   Bureau's chief of investigation probing gangster hurt from the bottom (7) ALMIRAH {In...n} in {AL}{HARM<=}

3   Showed cooks embracing recipe boosting cold soups (8) CHOWDERS {R} in {SHOWED}* <=>{C}

5   Stroll around centre of Saudi - Arab temple complex (11) PERAMBULATE {saUdi+ARAB+TEMPLE}*

6   Attire concealing standing order to kill (6) SUPARI {S{UP}ARI}

7   Remains close to fighting in clean contempt (7) DISGUST {D{IS}{f...nG}UST}

8   Abandoned felines in cast (5,4) STRAY CATS {CAST}* [RA]

12 Bananas contained in a trawler heading out to deep location (6,5) INDIAN OCEAN {CONTAINED+IN+A+Tr...r}* (Correction - {CONtAINED+IN+A}* See comments)

13 Doctor died! Nurse - not needed! (9) UNDESIRED {DIED+NURSE}*

15 Let down beaten side replacing England's captain (8) DEFLATED DEF(-e+l)LATED

17 Those who censor advertisements? (7) BANNERS [C&DD]

19 Somewhat cordial in eager race (7) LINEAGE [T]

20 Mother often choosing an eternal phrase in prayer (6) MANTRA {MA}{aN+eTeRnAl}

22 AI exchange in conversation generating note (4) CHIT CH(-a+i}IT

Reference List

India = I, Records = EPS (Extended Plays), Low = MOO, Men = OR(Other ranks),  English = E, Book = NT(New Testament), Nuclear = N, Vitamin = D, Gangster = AL(Capone)Recipe = R, Side = L(Left)

Special, Sunday 21 Jun 2026, K Koteswar Rao

Artwork by Prasanna

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 61, Sunday 21 Jun 2026,Arden

Artwork by Prasanna

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   Perhaps able to get one married shortly - it's naturally fertilizing (8) BONEMEAL {B{ONE}{Ma...d}EAL*}

5   Rollover I have overlooked... (6) WAIVED {WA{I'VE}D}

10 ...and committed to restrict (7) STAUNCH 

11 Old sailors found, say, a mini wearing girl (7) LASCARS {LAS{CAR}S}

12 Found before court (5) ERECT {ERE}{CT}

13 Strange predilections - not done at face value (4,5) LIST PRICE PREdILeCTIonS*

14 Propagation in half the country (12) INSEMINATION {IN}{SEMI}{NATION}

18 Provide cleanest side for a diner (12) DELICATESSEN* 

21 One on the wagon with a black paint (9) ABSTAINER {A}{B}{STAINER}

23 Cover empty drawer and copy (5) DRAPE {Dr..eR}{APE}

24 In my opinion, covering history is like a painting technique (7) IMPASTO {IM{PAST}O}

25 Country in Europe, is not a representation (7) ESTONIA {E}{IS+NOT+A}*

26 Some are present at a mid-week rush (6) TATAMI [T]

27 Harry Morgan's taking time for such a short distance (8) ANGSTROM {ANGS{T}ROM*}

DOWN

1   Breed born with wealth (6) BASSET {B}{ASSET}

2   Spruce up when finally consumed (6) NEATEN {wheN}{EATEN}

3   "Pick-me-up after one" - sung in a flat pitch (9) MONOTONIC {TONIC}<=>{MONO}

4   Wind and clothesline - metaphorically, seen as a vulnerability (8,6) ACHILLES TENDON*

6   Story-teller makes one sit up (5) AESOP {POSE}{A}<=

7   Perhaps Putin's angry rival is getting clueless (8) VLADIMIR {RIVAL}* over {DIM}

8   Detects record reprints - not counting the odd ones (8) DISCERNS {DISC}{rEpRiNtS}

9   Various cults around Singapore could be seen in a theatre (7,7) PLASTIC SURGEON {CULTS+SINGAPORE}*

15 Direct ones acted and they're related (9) ANECDOTES* [CD]

16 Romantic thought and inclination (8) IDEALIST {IDEA}{LIST}

17 Filmed occasionally, photographed outside top Paris strip joint (8) FLESHPOT {FiLmEd}{SH{Pa..s}OT}

19 Standard to disqualify her, they say (6) BANNER (~ban her)

20 Soothe with an ointment - cover exposed neck (6) BECALM 

22 State after a pile up (5) ASSAM {A}{MASS<=}

Reference List

Court = CT, Black = B, Europe = E, Time = T, Born = B