No 12720, Monday 02 Sep 2019, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Tie up fancy undergarment (6) INVEST {IN}{VEST}
4   Chemical substance that can fence a house? (8) COMPOUND [DD]
9   A blind test for infection (6) SCREEN [DD]
10 Shroud over established concern (8) INTEREST {INTER}{EST}
12 Fancied criminal aiding me (8) IMAGINED*
13 No even benefit to badly televised grasslands (6) VELDTS {TeLeViSeD}*
15 Go over some muddled logic to buy expensive stuff (4) GOLD [T<=]
16 Respecting antisubmarine companies (2,8) AS CONCERNS {AS}{CONCERNS}
19 Nitty-gritty about news studios revealed (3,3,4) INS AND OUTS {A+N&N+STUDIOS}*
20 Did he cause a red stain at Jallianwala Bagh? (4) DYER [C&DD]
23 Sharpest point blunted in parts (6) SHARES SHARpESt
25 Time to have idea for local layout (4,4) TOWN PLAN {T}{OWN}{PLAN}
27 Protection for illuminator? (4,4) LENS HOOD [CD]
28 No mother accepts stylish names in Latin (6) NOMINA {NO}{M{IN}A}
29 Familiar view next to passenger seat (8) NEARSIDE {NEAR}{SIDE}
30 Son breaking records gets grand treats (6) FEASTS {FEA{S}TS}

DOWN
1   Going forth, Iceland's taking to court (7) ISSUING {IS}{SUING}
2   Violent, evil Arabs – they keep changing (9) VARIABLES*
3   Reportedly find kiss to be beautiful (6) SCENIC (~see nick)
5   Noise of an animal? Alright to keep at home (4) OINK {O{IN}K}
6   Phantom's personality (8) PRESENCE [DD]
7   You hang in a balance and turn the other way (5) UPEND {U}{PEND}
8   Hates exams, half-dead at start (7) DETESTS {TESTS}<=>{DEad}
11 Allowance covers one working (7) PENSION {PENS}{1}{ON}
14 Power key on a keyboard (7) CONTROL [DD]
17 Income from sovereign bonds (9) ROYALTIES {ROYAL}{TIES}
18 Hen seems suspect, finding traps (8) ENMESHES*
19 Hormone protection stops at nothing (7) INSULIN INSULatIoN
21 Empty nester lets out, seeking a payment (7) RENTALS {Ne..eR+LEST}* over {A}
22 Returns from party upstairs, finding husband not home (6) INCOME {INC}{hOME} Why upstairs?
24 Apparently almost endless difficulty in breathing (5) APNEA {AP}{NEAr} AP/Apparently? See comments
26 Agreement with a detective agent (4) BOND [DD]

Reference List
Fancy = IN, Antisubmarine = AS, About = A, News = N, Point = PT, Time = T, Stylish = IN, Son = S, At home = IN, Nothing = 0, Party = INC, Husband = H, Apparently = AP

GRID

No 12683, Saturday 20 Jul 2019, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Obstacle being chic? (6) HICCUP  {CHIC}* [RA]
4   Captive sailors went round in circles (8) ABSORBED {ABS}{ORBED}
9   Complex vitamin bonds in lettuce (6) BLINKS {B}{LINKS}

10 Publicity-seeking noisemaker – one can go on and on (8) PRATTLER {P}{RATTLER} P for Publicity? (Addendum - {P{RATTLE}R} - See comments)
12 Pay attention to opinion and reputation (4,4) TAKE NOTE {TAKE}{NOTE}
13 Software engineer's uncontrollable itch to consume drug (ecstasy) (6) TECHIE {E+ITCH}*{E}
15 Short skirt invites endless disapproval, again! (4) TUTU {TUt}{TUt}
16 These can give rise to shocks (10) GOOSEBUMPS [CD]
19 Undoubtedly, Faraday by and large was working out Newton (3,3,4) FAR AND AWAY {FARADAY+WAs}* over {N}
20 Taking top off, search a person for hazard (4) RISK fRISK
23 Wind not inspiring the States (6) FLATUS {FLAT}{US}
25 Forks out behind old insects (8) ODONATES {O}{DONATES}

27 Where a lion is (lair?) mostly withdrawn, rejective (2,6) IN DENIAL {IN DEN}{LAIr<=}
28 Trade in cherry gives me energy for promotion (6) REDEEM {RED}{ME+E<=}
29 Rent lettings for occupation (8) SETTLING*
30 A 30-sec video before release of Joker (6) TEASER [DD]

DOWN
1   Use a tee in home (7) HABITAT {HABIT}{A}{T}
2   An insect showing hesitation – Roach, possibly (9) CRICKETER {CRICKET}{ER}
3   Dunk in sauce that's cold (6) UNKIND*
5   Rub on the back softly (4) BURP ? (Addendum - {RUB<=}{P} - See comments) &lit
6   Failing man penned sad notebooks (2,3,3) ON THE EBB  {HE} in {NOTE}*{BB}
7   Judges change heart, eject violently (5) BELCH BE(-n+l)LCH
8   They can leave you in stitches by running errands (7) DARNERS*
11 Seat of old dynasty in Turkey (7) OTTOMAN [DD]
14 One casts aspersions on Queen departing Great Britain and Ireland? (7) ISLANDS {1}{SLANDerS}
17 Sense of endless mist, possibly? (9) MOISTNESS {SENSE+O+MISt}* &lit
18 At home, a lungi is worn about the groin (8) INGUINAL {IN}{A+LUNGI}*
19 When baby boomers were born in, i.e., stiff conditions (7) FIFTIES* That clarifies yesterday's statement :-)
21 Right, ask him about a place in North India (7) KASHMIR {R+ASK+HIM}*
22 Cold outcome of partners securing last grade in engineering branch (6) SNEEZE {S}{N}{E}{E{Z}E}
24 Study accounts of auto firm, Tesla (5) AUDIT {AUDI}{T}
26. Gape at flight turning north (4) YAWN {WAY<=}{N}

Reference List

Drug = E, Ecstasy = E, Newton = N, Old = O, Energy = E, Tee = T, Book = B, Queen = ER, Of = O, Right = R, Partners = S,N,E, Engineering Branch = EE(Electrical Engineering), Tesla = T, North = N

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

No 12651, Thursday 13 Jun 2019, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Meagre artist draws out a prickly fish (6) STINGY STING raY
4   On Fools' Day, beds trees (8) APRICOTS {APR 1}{COTS}

9   Nonsense acting with a loud laugh (6) GUFFAW {GUFF}{A}{W}
10 Turn Asia around to welcome European (8) AUSTRIAN*
12 Run out of fluorine? Iodine could be substituting (2,4,2) IN LIEU OF {FLUOrINE+I}*
13 Jam emptied out pending close of breakfast (6) IMPEDE EMPtIED*
15 Leather from yak's used for tailor-made tops (4) YUFT Acrostic
16 Bad co-stars spoiling TV shows (10) BROADCASTS*
19 Sharing surname with cold and disgusting Mongolian (10) COGNOMINAL*
20 Posh car hired for money (4) MERC [DD]
23 Cryptic message on hot image being circulated (6) CIPHER {RE}{H}{PIC}<=
25 Royal buses assemble here? (8) MAJESTIC [D] You need to be in Bangalore to know the second definition
27 It is possible that aid is distributed over different years (1,4,3) I DARE SAY {AID}*{YEARS}*
28 Trims the edge off dry fruits (6) PRUNES [DD]

29 Try 50-50? (2,6) GO HALVES {GO}{HALVES} &lit
30 Wail loudly to snatch her fruit (6) CHERRY {C{HER}RY}

DOWN
1   Show house's substandard, not fine (7) SIGNIFY {SIGN}{IFfY}
2   Well-dressed lecturer delivered fulfilling drills (2,4,3) IN FULL FIG FUlFULLING*

3   Sour food for the losers? (6) GRAPES [CD]

5   Cushy strip of feathers clipped (4) PLUM PLUMe

6   Belonging in a city rebuilt over months (8) INTIMACY {IN+A+CITY}* over M
7   Twist, as Republican finally falls out for peace (5) OLIVE OLIVEr Why finally?

8   They can be scorching renderers of melody (7) SINGERS [DD]
11 Motivating slogan at entrance and exit? (2-2-3) DO-OR-DIE {DOOR}{DIE}
14 Graduate fools? Crazy! (7) BANANAS {BA}{NANAS}

17 Western treatment comprises drugs providing relief for diabetic (9) SWEETENERS {SW{EE}TENER*}
18 Toll-free passes indicate in advance (8) FORETELL*
19 Somewhat cynical about quitting good, healthy activity (7) CYCLING {CYNICaL}*{G}
21 Birds' husbandry — extremely ridiculed thing (7) COCKSHY {COCKS}{Hu...rY}
22 Hunt for wise man picked up near church (6) SEARCH (~seer){SEAR}{CH}
24 Sports pain does not last till the end? That's excellent! (5) PEACH {PE}{ACHe}

26 Go out with partner and become unfashionable (4) DATE [DD]

Reference List

Artist = RA(Royal Academician), Acting = A, With = W, Run = R, Cold = C, On = RE, Hot = H, Fine =F, Lecturer = L, Month = M, Graduate = BA, Drug = E, About = A, Good = G, Church = CH, Sports = PE, 

GRID

No 12622, Friday 10 May 2019, Scintillator

RULES FOR POSTING ON 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.

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

The regular blog will replace the clues at 2 PM.

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

ACROSS
1   Train a bunch of dolphins (6) SCHOOL [DD]
4   Gimmicks of special comedian hilarious at the outset, makes a mark (8) SCHTICKS {S}{Co...n}{Hi...s}{TICKS}
9   Emphatic style associated with ancient Rome? (6) ITALIC [C&DD]
10 Allen put out a small seedling (8) PLANTULE*
12 Ambassador in estate, fit to meet artistic American (8) ESTHETIC {EST}{HE}{TIC}
13 Swami thrashed confiscating old deity in Iran (6) MITHRA [T]
15 Compact weapons? Boomerangs! (4) SNUG<=
16 Conservative Hindus gel well while planning for event (10) SCHEDULING {C+HINDUS+GEL}*
19 Sap and bark of cinnamon loosens stools (10) NINCOMPOOP {CINnaMON}*{POOP}
20 Fit Republican pulls out of debate (4) AGUE ArGUE
23 Sample quote not sufficient to create a stir (6) EXCITE (~eg){EX}{CITE}
25 Small change in her plans accommodated (8) SHRAPNEL* Definition not understood See comments
27 Silly of us to be drinking always, getting wild (8) FEVEROUS {EVER} in {OF+US}*
28 Begging, like a boss (6) ASKING {AS}{KING}
29 Lajpat Rai set down an idealistic society (2-2,4) LA-LA-LAND {LALA}{LAND}
30 Cabbage purchased by Berber (6) KABYLE {KA{BY}LE}

DOWN
1   I cut short jingle after mum gets palpitations (7) SHIVERS {SH}{I}{VERSe}
2   Love speedy ride on a motorcycle? It can cause some pain (9) HEARTBURN {HEART}{BURN}
3   Did Judge wish to be in debt? (6) OPINED {O{PINE}D}
5   100 years young? On the contrary, dead (4) COLD {C}{OLD}
6   Buzz caused by money given to fool us (8) TINNITUS {TIN}{NIT}{US}
7   Company's expression of disgust to confess crime (5) COUGH {CO}{UGH}
8   Woman takes a blow during affair (7) SHEBANG {SHE}{BANG}
11 Rustic lodges said to provide minor setbacks (7) HICCUPS (~ hick cups)
14 Arjun at first sees hidden chocolates imported from place in S. Africa (7)  LESOTHO {LE{Sees}O}THO Anno pending (Addendum - {CHOCOLATES - Ar..n -  CC}* - See comments)
17 Naive man finds software with unknown flair (9) INGENUITY {INGENU}{IT}{Y}
18 Silly bird in party gets letter-bombed (8) DOTTEREL {DO}{LETTER*}

19 Congress rejected from having influenced criminal — that's obligatory (7) NEEDFUL inFLUENcED*
21 London diary said to feature a small poem (7) ECLOGUE {EC}{LOGUE}(~log)
22 Sickness drug imported to Norway, Austria and America (6) NAUSEA {N}{AUS}{E}{A}
24 Complain about foul issued at last (5) CAVIL {CA}{VILe}
26 Regret dismissal of tailender during collapse (4) RUIN {RUe}{IN}

GRID

No 12589, Tuesday 02 Apr 2019, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Silence is so valuable (6) GOLDEN [DD]
4   Save government, harp about informative statistical chart (3,5) BAR GRAPH {BAR}{G}{HARP*}
9 Letter from doctor boy's about to receive (6) LAMBDA {LAD}{A} over {MB}
10 Blank cheque for a fettered being? (4,4) FREE REIN [CD]
12 Cast lacking in talent for Doctor Strange? (8) WONDROUS Anno pending (Addendum - {WO}{N{DR}OUS} - See comments)
13 Pressure maintained along this is excluding old punctures (6) ISOBAR {O} in {IS}{BAR}
15 Food burning? Maid gives out a chime (4) RING charRING
16 Peace organizations overseeing onset of peace — one cast away going scot-free (10) UNPUNISHED {UN}{Pe..e}{UN}{1}{SHED}
19 From being in good spirits, fell off with hue and cry (10) CHEERFULLY {FELL+HUE+CRY}*
20 Incognito, a colleague of mine (4) ANON [DD]
23 Forsaken woman with a weapon advanced near husband (6) AGUNAH {A}{GUN}{A}{H}
25 Remarkable scenery surrounding river in county (8) SOMERSET {SOME SET} over {R}
27 Behind bars; June eighth: he escaped mysteriously (2,3,3) IN THE JUG {JUNE+eIGHTh}*
28 Indian brain and heart suffering outside India? That's not new (6) BIHARI {BRAIn+H}* over {I}
29 In concert — on time, got here after a struggle (8) TOGETHER {T}{GOT+HERE}*
30 One is terrible, not just at making omelette (3,3) BAD EGG [CD]

DOWN
1   Trouble in the Middle East to overwhelm intelligence agency, in retrospect (4,3) GULF WAR {GULF}{RAW<=}
2   I'm unclean, getting cleaned gives brightness (9) LUMINANCE*
3   Last? Last, definitely not first! (6) ENDURE {END}{sURE}
5   Milieu in the interior of the restaurant (4) AURA [T]
6   Northbound engineer is somewhat mortified like a rock (8) GNEISSIC {ENG<=}{IS}{SICk} Mortified/Sick?
7   Reporters can find Djokovic possibly bitter (5) ACERB (~ a serb)
8   Under extremely hard conditions, for ten decades (7) HUNDRED {UNDER+HarD}*
11 Expel from assembly (7) TURNOUT [DD]
14 First person transferred to second, it's said, thousands in valuable metal (7) BULLION B(-i+u)ULLION
17 Nod hard to get along with vocal Dubai leader (9) HANDSHAKE {H}{AND}{SHAKE}(~sheikh)
18 Trinket of gold — quote a bid (8) ORNAMENT {OR}{NAME}{NT}
19 Burn up paper during Yatra ride (7) CHARIOT {CHAR}{TOI<=}
21 Getting trimmer? Cannot hinge on squat (7) NOTHING [T] Definition not clear See comments
22 It signals on seeing faulty train blocking terminal in Pune (6) RETINA {TRAIN}* over {punE}
24 Take the label off junta government (5) UNTAG [T] 'Off' on double duty? "Remove label from junta government" would have been better.
26 Dash for control (4) RULE [DD?]

GRID

No 12558, Monday 25 Feb 2019, Scintillator

Scintillator in election mode?

ACROSS
1   Put off using pluckiest tool for harvest (6) SICKLE pLuCKIESt*
4   Preference's eating cold desserts (4-4) CHOC-ICES {CHO{C}ICES}
9   Cayenne, a dozen boxes (6) ENNEAD [T]
10 Wrinkle on mouth's unseemly (8) UNSMOOTH*
12 The panel recruits a bigwig (8) ELEPHANT*
13 Is it a surety for Kaveri? (6) BANKER [C&DD]
15 The second person to declare a feast (4) YULE (~you'll)
16 Married girl aims to train newbie to put on a little weight (10) MILLIGRAMS {L} in {M+GIRL+AIMS}*
19 Partners rather well-fed. Boss? Not quite (10) BEDFELLOWS {WELL+FED+BOSs}*
20 Cut off = 'Pare' (4) REAP*
23 Big girl previously getting hot footwear (6) GALOSH  {GAL} before {OS}{H}
25 Accommodate a trapped brute (8) PREADAPT*
27 Gold to intermingle advanced robots (8) AUTOMATA {AU}{TO}{MAT}{A}
28 One taking a French female without gentlemen is secure (6) IMMUNE {1]{MM{UN}E} What's the role of gentlemen? (Addendum - {1}{MM}{UNE} - See comments)
29 Sitting duck, calm symbol (4,4) EASY MARK {EASY}{MARK}
30 Read about Montana, got into a reverie (6) DREAMT {READ*}{MT}

DOWN
1   Landscape said to be found on top of lines (7) SCENERY (~seen){SCENE}{RY}
2   Hidden scam reportedly shut (9) CONCEALED {CON}{CEALED}(~sealed)
3   Look at what's turning to hate (6) LOATHE {LO}{AT}{EH<=}
5   Provide a deal (4) HAND [DD]
6   See, by morning, a panel will be announced for political race (8) CAMPAIGN {C}{AM}{PAIGN}(~pane)
7   Face of grandfather, possibly (5) CLOCK [CD]
8   Free press hangs about man's circles (7) SPHERES {SP{HE}RES*}
11 Limited edition of scent — it lessens style (7) ENTITLE [T]
14 Buds and devotees God left reeling (7) FLOWERS FolLOWERS O/God?
17 A cute lab needing surgery (advanced) for hip parts (9) ACETABULA {A+CUTE+LAB}*{A}
18 Son tucking into pies served by mother? Worst! (8) PESSIMUM {PE{S}SI*}{MUM}
19 Celebrity is beaming all over (3-4) BIG-NAME*
21 Nerveless bones — what one may need (7) PATIENT ? [DD] See comments
22 Unskilled actor half-deserves censure (6) HAMMER {HAM}{MERits}
24 Lincoln walking out of absolute ruckus — a bloomer (5) LOTUS abSOLUTe*
26 Adept removing particles from tadka ingredient (4) STAR muSTARd Not sure of anno. Mud/Particles?

Bhargav's Talepiece

The college union election was nearing and the CLOCK ticking. Ajith was busy with his CAMPAIGN. He was known to favour the HAMMER and SICKLE party.

His father was a retired BANKER and a BIG NAME in the blade finance business. Ajith DREAMT of one day becoming a Finance Minister.

Vani could be seen with a lot of FLOWERS in her head and no wonder her symbol was a LOTUS. Paul lent her a helping HAND.

Rani took an ELEPHANT symbol and joined the fray.

What happened next?

GRID

No 12525, Tuesday 29 Jan 2019, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Favourite vehicle? Original Wilton (6) CARPET {CAR}{PET}
4   Try redirecting 1st, 5th, 10th bits out of a narration (8) DIEGETIC rEDIrECTInG*
9   Country game, played as is (6) RUSSIA {RU}{AS+IS}*

10 Worrying heart scare — bases eroded into inflammations (8) CATARRHS {HeART+SCARe}*
12 Primarily, the position of a lead climber? (5,3) ABOVE ALL [DD]
13 Flies off with this confused, rich woman, leaving man behind (6) CHOWRI {RICH+WOman}*

15 Bomb is undug, keep checking at regular intervals (4) NUKE {uNdUg+KeEp}
16 Block wild fornication in the absence of love (10) INFARCTION FoRNICATION*
19 They cover up speed bars broken around break of dawn (10) BEDSPREADS {SPEED+BARS}* over {Dawn}
20 Davenport yet gives up prematurely (4) SOFA {SO FAr}
23 Cool season (6) TEMPER [DD]
25 They can welcome us in afternoon to dorms, possibly (8) DOORMATS {A+TO+DORMS}* A/Afternoon? See comments
27 Mostly evade duty — off-time? (5,3) DUVET DAY {EVADe+DUTY}*
28 England quits about festering conflict (6) STRIFE FESTeRIng*
29 Son to take off loose outfit (8) SUNDRESS {S}{UNDRESS}

30 Cleaners needing right tools for plastering (6) TOWELS TrOWELS

DOWN
1   Blind dog's silly antic cut short (7) CURTAIN {CUR}{ANTIc}*
2   Remain affected starting out, took a fill again (9) RESTOCKED {REST}{rOCKED}
3   Banished old capital's retrograde without hospital (6) EXILED {EX}{DELhI<=}
5   Lead priest's led astray — unfounded dilemma (4) IMAM dIleMMA*
6   Not fashionable — harping about chips' designs (8) GRAPHICS {HARPinG<=}{ICS}
7   Get rid of some upholstery (5) THROW [DD]
8   Nervous cousin calls husband in for support (7) CUSHION {H} in {COUSIN}*
11 Broad coverage (7) BLANKET [E]
14 Beard rope with ends trimmed — that adds grace to the face! (7) EARDROP {bEARD+ROPe}
17 Cold Violet is a criminal (9) ISOLATIVE*
18 Top cluesmith, an unexpected winner? (8) UPSETTER {UP}{SETTER}
19 Happens to be ahead of trends (7) BETIDES {BE}{TIDES}
21 Demands of setters? (7) ANSWERS [CD]
22 Hollow one shifting sides in good game of chance (6) GROTTO {G}{(-l+r)ROTTO}
24 Expert followers imbibing the Bible (5) MAVEN {M{AV}EN}
26 Pollutes some water available here? (4) MARS [DD?]

GRID

No 12480, Saturday 24 Nov 2018, Scintillator

Double the pleasure today 

Across

1. Bright brothers restricted by age minimum (6) GEMINI (T)
4. Leave in university continues (2,6) UP STICKS {UP}{STICKS }
9. Like slithery snakes shedding temporary skin (6) RELISH {SLItHERy*}
10. Fit to fight? Got extremely hurt and made friends (3,2,3) HIT IT OFF {FIT+TO+FIgHt*} Anno ok?
12. Plates in a meal being arranged, takes a bit long (8) LAMELLAE {A+MEAL*} around {ELL}
13. Margin of order placed for purchase (6) INDENT (DD)
15. Close relative checking out Florida, a show-off (4) AUNT {flAUNT}
16. Just became stronger and ready for action (8-2) BUTTONED-UP {BUT}{TONED UP}
19. Henry could also be shifted to a co-ed (4,6) DUAL SCHOOL {H+COULD+ALSO*}
20. Hawk ripped heartlessly (4) SPIT {SPlIT}
23. A fraud, because of whom the bell tolls? (6) RINGER (DD)
25. Part of Salt Lake City with heroin in circulation (8) CHLORINE {L+C+HEROIN*}
27. Condensed peaks near Ural Ranges (8) CAPSULAR {CAPS}{URAL*}
28. Prominent display of special Vibhuti? (6) SPLASH {SPL}{ASH}
29. Brutal Germany annexing Luxembourg to be protected (8) SALVAGED {SA{L}VAGE}{D}
30. Celebrity jumping in glee and losing face (6) LEGEND {GLEE*}{aND}

Down

1. Monkey violence mostly not present in Bengaluru? (7) GORILLA {GORe}{ILLA}
2. I am a lone male, nurturing an irrational love for music (9) MELOMANIA {I+AM+A+LONE+M*}
3. Some on the ascendancy felt sensational and snug (6) NESTLE (T<=)
5. Odd pieces of replica make one (4) PAIR {RePlIcA*}
6. Model securing victory with matching clothes (8) TWINNING {T}{WINNING}
7. Cc. to a biologist? (5) CLONE (Defn by example+CD)
8. Easy to perform better than a convertible (4,3) SOFT TOP {SOFT}{TOP}
11. Plastic cup, each with a cover (7) CAPUCHE {CUP+EACH*}
14. Decrease in size of a prize (7) ATROPHY {A}{TROPHY}
17. Identical citadel built on high parts (9) DUPLICATE {UP} in {CITADEL*}
18. It is a flowering plant, according to heads of US Landing Agency (8) ASPERULA {AS PER}{Us}{Landing}{Agency}

19. Some capital under malicious credit orders (7) DIRECTS {CREDIT*}{Some}
21. Got some cutters? (7) TEETHED (CD)
22. Link from timeless Kural (6) COUPLE {COUPLEt}
24. Neighbour and friend bridge opponents at the forefront (5) NEPAL {NE}{PAL}
26. Game over for Anand, possibly (4) MATE (CD)

Reference List

University=UP, Florida=Fl, Lake=L, City=C, Special=Spl, Germany=D, Luxembourg=L
Not present in Bangalore=Illa, Male=M, Model=T, Time=T, Bridge Opponents=NE

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Theme word,  Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

No 12432, Thursday 27 Sep 2018, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Blue LED out of charge (6) SADDLE {SAD}{LED*}
4   Crook predicts some reality shows are such (8) SCRIPTED*
9   European boards second-class rail (6) BERATE {B}{E}{RATE}
10 Satsang has expelled sons training in yoga (8) ASHTANGA {sATSANG+HAs}* How do you explain deleting only 2 S's when there are three?
12 Bull event topped nine crore, approximately (8) ENCIERRO* What's the role of 'TOPPED'? (Addendum - {nINE+CRORE}* - See comments)

13 Express disapproval of material thing (6) OBJECT [DD]
15 A spy’s narration of a story (4) TAIL (~tale)
16 Glass surface is delicate, move forward (5,5) LIGHT TABLE ? {LIGHT} {TABLE} Anno pending (Addendum - See comments)
19 Stitching clip no lark for distaff (4-6) PINK COLLAR*
20 Humour in lowdown? (4) MOOD {MOO}{D}
23 Makes second proposal to rejected brides (6) REBIDS*
25 Judgement scene shot with ten lodged inside (8) SENTENCE {SEN{TEN}CE*}
27 Working late with discipline, come in for great praise (8) ENCOMION {COME+IN}*{ON}
28 Mix large parts of this and one spice (6) TAHINI {THIs+ANd}*{1} TAHINI is a paste of Sesame seeds and not a spice by itself
29 Sat, drank, cleaned vessels (8) TANKARDS*
30 Sounded like a donkey-kissed expression (6) ASPECT (~ass pecked)

DOWN
1   A citizen owing allegiance (7) SUBJECT [CD]
2   Course credit difficult? No one turns up! (9) DIRECTION {CREDIT}*{NO 1<=}
3   Landlord's character (6) LETTER [DD]
5   Police might inspect one luggage item (4) CASE [DD]
6   Use a canula, I bet aunt will be cured (8) INTUBATE*
7   Nervous in the past, possibly (5) TENSE [DD]
8   Army's second defeat orchestrated by raw recruit (7) DRAFTEE {aRmy+DEFEAT}*
11 For example, a story in a newspaper (7) ARTICLE [DD]
14 She raps exercising empty language (7) PHRASES*
17 Facial feature's good on eating right, healthy grain (5,4) BROWN RICE {BROW}{N{R}ICE}

18 Account on getting a rejection in targeted universities (8) ACADEMIA {AC}{A}{AIMED<=}
19 Ideal class leader making about-turn (7) PERFECT P{RE<=}FECT
21 Meal plan? I'd set it up! (7) DIETIST* &lit
22 Old governors are missing thongs (6) STRAPS SaTRAPS
24 Meat brought home by the breadwinner? (5) BACON [CD]
26 Promise liberals will quit the planet (4) WORD WORlD

GRID

No 12414, Wednesday 05 Sep 2018, Scintillator

ACROSS
1   Honey being told to kiss Jack (6) NECTAR (~neck){NEC}{TAR}
4   Northern state worth good change and development (8) UPGROWTH {UP}{WORTH+G}*
9   Union leader's tip: "India — extremely perfect state" (6) UTOPIA {Un..n}{TOP}{IndiA}
10 Question stated without essence, was on shaky grounds (8) QUAVERED {QU}{AVErRED}
12 Look like engineer put together without a son (8) RESEMBLE {RE}{asSEMBLE}
13 Small apartment where artists work (6) STUDIO [DD]
15 Some programmes on TV are so vivid (4) LIVE [DD]
16 Government blocks wife meeting chief in a defence post (10) BRIDGEHEAD {BRID{G}E}{HEAD}
19 Devious show of acrobats entertains one out to have a riot (10) CIRCUITOUS {CIRCU{1}{OUT}*S}
20 Counterfoil carries overruled exceptions (4) STUB<=
23 Opponents long for control button (6) SWITCH {S-W}{ITCH}
25 Target bang for buck in developing North Zone (4,2,2) ZERO IN ON {ROI} in {N+ZONE}*
27 Buildings of education and of abandoned businesses (8) EDIFICES {ED}I{ofFICES} I from?
28 Eg, Sikh touring in Scotland, unsociable (6) SKEIGH*
29 One name for article — only women had to propose? (8) NOMINATE {NO M(1+n-an)AIN}{ATE} Only women should be 'no men' and not 'no man' if my anno is correct
30 A century, and another (century no. 2), right away (2,4) AT ONCE {A}{TON}{C}{cEn...y}

DOWN
1   Court adjourned, somewhat reluctant to be impartial (7) NEUTRAL RELUctANT*
2   Angry about voter being a turncoat (9) CROSSOVER {CROSS}{OVER}
3   A team, over little time, draws nil — they are taken at face value (6) AXIOMS {A}{XI}{O}{MS}
5   Put a stop to publicity (4) PLUG [DD]
6   Engineers examined carefully and faced with masonry (8) REVETTED {RE}{VETTED}
7   Tapped by the police, taking drugs (5) WIRED WIR{E}D Anno pending (Addendum - [DD] - See comments)
8   Remarkably odd, not a hairy animal (7) HYDROID {ODD+HaIRY}*
11 Good understanding of erroneous literacy rate at last dropping (7) CLARITY* LITeRACY
14 Post-promotion, one quits panels delivering justice for charges (7) ADJURES {AD}{JURiES}
17 Old bird stretching wing (9) EXTENSION {EX}{TENSION}
18 Japanese ointment for joint (8) JUNCTION {J}{UNCTION}
19 Tank letting go of a faulty canister (7) CISTERN CaNISTER*
21 Wailing woman to prohibit mostly gullible people (7) BANSHEE {BAN}{SHEEp}
22 Where seer could be lodged? (6) SOCKET [CD]
24 Largely innocent man can be a bull in a china shop? (5) IDIOM {IDIOt}{M}
26 Ran hands over a soft fabric (4) FELT [DD]

GRID

No 12363, Saturday 07 Jul 2018, Scintillator

Across

1. Wood from tree with nests (6) SANDAL {S{AND}AL}
4. Academic, losing head, copied trick (8) PEDANTIC {aPED}{ANTIC}
9. Take possession of trophy, appearing coy on the outside (6) OCCUPY {COY*} around {CUP}
10. Pitch before founder to evoke change of mind (4-4) FLIP-FLOP {FLIP}-{FLOP}
12. Cutting line to enter with extreme caution (8) GINGERLY {GINGER{l}Y}
13. Timeless botanist grows tree in a pot (6) BONSAI {BOtANISt*}
15. Heart possibly left bleeding from fat (4) PUMP {PlUMP}
16. Appropriate // make-up is such (10) APPLICABLE (DD)
19. Investor misses out in Hollywood setting (3,7) LOS ANGELES {LOS {ANGEL}ES}
20. Kick-start? (4) BOOT (DD)
23. Ask for support, mostly to get painting material (6) CANVAS {CANVASs}
25. Being broke, so I may skip inessential academic conferences (8) SYMPOSIA {SO I MAY SkiP*}
27. Overwhelmed by dry day, little devil put on a weak smile (8) SIMPERED {S{IMP}ERE}[D}
28. Club's electronic panel needs fixing (6) ALPEEN {E+PANEL}*
29. Lol! Limps with battered shoe (8) PLIMSOLL {LOL+LIMPS}*
30. Wastrel gets ale for drunk (6) LOAFER {ALE+FOR}*

Down

1. Substitute starting to polish silver vessels is upset (7) STOPGAP {Polish}{AG}{POTS}<=
2. Dubs celebrity arrests to be 'superficial' (9) NICKNAMES {NICK{NAME}S}
3. Greece manages to export fruits (6) APPLES {grAPPLES}
5. See around Spain in a devious way (4) EELY {E{E}LY}
6. Very silently, a pest draws to get near (8) APPROACH {A}{PP}{ROACH}
7. Lift opponents at the table, drunk, in pieces (5) TILES {SE}{LIT}<=
8. Sudden whim to restrict a South Indian's necessity (7) CAPRICE {CAP}{RICE}
11. He wouldn't remain in a dancing shoe (7) SLIPPER (CD?) (CD&D) See comments
14. Indecent to watch a bird down under (4-3) BLUE-EYE {BLUE}-{EYE}
17. A bibliophile's favourite haunt (9) BOOKSHELF (CD)
18. Not odd to fear snakes – snakes out in grasses! (8) SNEAKERS {fEaR+SNAKES}*
19. Somewhat apolitical, ace superstar steps into shoes (5,2) LACES UP (T)
21. Coach and team leader shower jointly,wanting to get hot (7) TRAINER {Team}{RAIN}{togethER}
22. Handsome young man needs a vote to get Oscar (6) APOLLO {A}{POLL}{O}
24. Mini-binoculars in the front reflecting a lot of light rings (5) NIMBI {MINI+Binoculars}* Reflecting on double duty? See comments
26. Scoundrel crushed by she-elephant (4) HEEL (T)

Reference List
Line=L, Time=T
Silver=Ag, Greece=Gr, Hot=H, Oscar=O

Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

Bhargav's Talepiece

The bouncer and the dancer - Part 82

He wore LOAFERS while in school and carried a safety pin in case... Never finished school but entered politics as a SNEAKER taking part in sundry demonstrations and agitations.

Became fascinated with footwear after coming to know of the I.M. collection and the most talked about in his own State. Having fallen head over HEELS for footwear, Marudhu's collection included SANDALS from Miu Miu and PLIMSOLLS from Jimmy Choo.

He imported CAPRICE brand from Germany. After seeing the tagline "Walking on air" in the logo he thought he could levitate! Even his toilet SLIPPERS were imported. 

Had many NICKNAMES but the most popular was Kabali. He often used to shout "Seruppuda" whenever he wanted to SHOO and BOOT someone.

He LACES UP as the plane is about to land in LOS ANGELES.

Marudhu is taken around Shangri-la. Koo! What a tour!!  He can arrange for all his colleagues to be brought here and made to stay as long as necessary whenever the need arises.... Entertainment and booze was readily available.

As a STOP GAP arrangement he makes SS to OCCUPY the seat of Manager of  APOLLO School of Dance.

He also introduces his own dancers including the peppy Indra Kumari and his brother-in-law Vasu who was the APPLE of his eye to take care of the receipts.

(CAN VASU be relied upon?)

What happened next?

No 12339, Saturday 09 June 2018, Scintillator

Across

1. Gone girl? (2-4) EX-WIFE (CD)
4. One vents out through these outlets (8) CHIMNEYS (CD)
9. Addict with a hot pipe (6) HOOKAH {HOOK}{A}{H}
10. Confident using a new style, ditching Western (8) SANGUINE {USING+A+NEw*}
12. Fixing venue only, fail over without regularity (8) UNEVENLY {VENUE+oNLY*}
13. Asians touring Suez back after vacation (6)  UZBEKS {SUEZ+BacK*}
15. Indeed, your health could be going south (2,1,1) TO A T {TO A sT
16. To quit narcotic abuse — little information on harmful substance (10) CARCINOGEN {NARCotIC*}{O}{GEN} O from?
19. Still and eerie around some plants (4,6) TREE LILIES {STILL+EERIE*}
20. Scent's not a rage (4) FUME {perFUME}
23. One boring job to regulate user experience with jewellery (6) BIJOUX {I} in {JOB*}+ {UX}
25. Roaming the interiors of Charminar with a female boss (8) MAHARANI {cHARMINAr+A*}
27. "Quit rice", to paraphrase careful analysis (8) CRITIQUE {QUIT+RICE*}
28. Cop has cotton strip supporting broken bone (6) SPLINT {SP}{LINT}
29. Lie more or expose lies? (8) OUTBLUFF {OUT}{BLUFF}
30. Newton used oil to cook hoops for pal (6) FRIEND {FRIE{N}D}

Down

1. Empty tire (7) EXHAUST (DD)
2. Extensive beer with pickles at the start (9)  WHOLESALE {W}{HOLES}{ALE}
3. Case of friends supporting weak lovers (6) FLAMES {Friend{LAME}S}
5. Stir up a race (4) HEAT (DD)
6. Outlook, possibly of Arsenal? (8) MAGAZINE (DD)
7. Top-class marble tiles, skirting to some extent (5) ELITE (T<=)
8. Takes a part in rank bad act (5,2) STEPS IN {STEP}{SIN}
11. Plastic ball I damaged during sports class (7) PLIABLE {P{BALL+I*}E}
14. Mum, playing chess, sketches clear plans (7) SCHEMAS {CHESS*} around {MA}
17. Organic compound made from one gunmetal alloy (9) GLUTAMINE {I+GUNMETAL*}
18. Whole uranium bottle containing rich sediment (8) ALLUVIAL {ALL}{U}{VIAL}
19. Unfulfilled support to company hoarding snuff (7) TOBACCO {TO}{BACk}CO}
21. With hand tied, English editor gave a release (7) EMITTED {E}{MITT}{ED}
22. One can struggle to breathe in poor smoke (6) GASPER (DD)
24. Perhaps, hip meeting place (5) JOINT (DD)
26. Comfort pant (4) PUFF(DD)

Reference List
Hot=H, Western=W, Over=O, South=S, A=Per, One=I, Cop=SP, Newton=N
With=W, Sports class=PE, Mum=Ma, Uranium=U, Company=Co, Hand=Mitt, English=E, Editor=Ed


Colour/Font Scheme

Definition, Solution, Component letters, Embedded links, Anagram Indicator, C/C indicator, Reversal Indicator, Hidden word Indicator, Letter Pick indicator, Deletion Indicator, Homophone Indicator, Movement Indicator, Positional Indicator, Substitution, Indicator, Link/Connector, Extraneous

GRID

Bhargav's Talepiece

The bouncer and the dancer - Part 58

Turns out that Rita is the younger sister of Oscar's EX-WIFE.

Linda STEPS IN with the two into a room filled with TOBACCO smoke
EMITTED by constant PUFFING of Clement who is morose.

Having seen Rita in many a magazine Clement knew her as an ELITE
dancer.

JOINT discussions are held and the duo of  Clement and Linda OUT BLUFF
one another and convince Rita to resign from Gemini.

SS is not aware of the development and is found blissfully in conversation
with FRIENDS enjoying smoking the HOOKAH.

Are his dreams shattered by a Hookah?