ORDER : 1. Leave granted. 2. This appeal challenges the order dated 10.07.2020 passed by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla in Crl. M.P. (M) No.1107 of 2020. 3. The appellant (accused no.2) is facing prosecution in Case No.135 of 2018 on the file of the Special Judge-II, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh in connection with crime registered pursuant to FIR No.62 dated 23.02.2018 with Police Station Sadar Mandi, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, for the offences punishable under Sections 20 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. 4. The application preferred by the appellant for release on bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (‘the Code’, for short) having been rejected by the High Court, the appellant has preferred this appeal. 5. According to the case of the prosecution, in a vehicle occupied by five persons including the appellant, contraband material (“Charas”) weighing 3285 grams was found concealed behind the panel of the front left side door of the vehicle. 6. It is accepted that seven witnesses have already been examined in the trial and seven more witnesses are yet to be examined. The last witness was examined in February 2020 whereafter there is no further progress in the trial because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. It is also accepted that the appellant was taken in custody on 23.02.2018 and, as such, he has completed more than 2 years 7 months of actual custody. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances on record, in our view, the appellant is entitled to the benefit under Section 439 of the Code. We order accordingly. 8. The appellant shall be produced before the Trial Court within three days from today and the Trial Court shall release him on bail, subject to such conditions as the Trial Court may deem appropriate to impose to ensure his presence and participation in the pending trial. 9. We may also observe that since seven witnesses have already been examined, the Trial Court shall conclude the trial as early as possible. 10. With the aforesaid observations, the appeal is allowed.