THE wife of the prime suspect in the Hannah Foster murder inquiry will not face criminal proceedings.

Hampshire police today confirmed Shalinder Kaur, 33, would not be charged in connection with the disappearance of her husband, Maninder Pal Singh Kohli.

The mother-of-two has twice been quizzed by Southampton detectives investigating the rape and murder of 17-year-old Hannah, who disappeared on her way home from a night out on March 14.

Sandwich delivery driver Kohli, 35, sparked an international manhunt after it was discovered he had flown to India two days after Hannah's body was found in a country lane.

Now one of Britain's most wanted men, he is believed to be in hiding in the Punjab and remains at large nearly four months after Hannah's death.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Mrs Kaur was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice two days after her husband was identified as the key suspect on March 27.

She was later released on bail but was quizzed again by police at Bitterne police station in May.

Now, after reviewing a file prepared by police, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced there is insufficient evidence to charge Mrs Kaur with any offence.

Today a Hampshire police spokesman said: "Shalinder Kaur, the wife of Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, the man wanted by police in the UK and India in connection with the murder of Portswood teenager Hannah Foster, has been released from police bail and will not face further action.

"Mrs Kaur, 33, from Southampton, was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice on March 29 this year.

"The Crown Prosecution Service has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to charge."

The Daily Echo understands Mrs Kaur has been informed of the outcome by letter.

Mrs Kaur had lived with Kohli, 35, and their two young sons in a ground-floor flat in Broadlands Road, Swaythling.

Now staying with her family at an address in Southampton, she issued a statement in May appealing for her fugitive husband to give himself up to the authorities in India.

She told him: "For my sake and for the good of your children and family, I urge you to hand yourself in to police and come home so this can be sorted out."

Hampshire police have done everything possible to assist with the longed-for arrest of Kohli, even flying to Delhi to help cut through red tape.

But the force has no jurisdiction in India and must leave it for the authorities there to act.

Hannah, a talented A-level student who hoped to become a doctor, was abducted just yards from her Portswood home on Friday, March 14. Her strangled body was found in Allington Lane, West End, two days later.