The vice-principal of Don Bosco school, arrested on charges of attempting to rape a 14-year-old student, could be a habitual sex offender, the police told a Pune court on Tuesday while seeking extension of his custody.

"We have information that there were similar complaints against Iju Francis Falcao when he was employed at schools in Thane and Mumbai. He had to resign," sub-inspector Reshma B Mulani, an investigating officer in the case, told judicial magistrate first class SS Patil.

Falcao's lawyer Harshad Nimbalkar said the prosecution was giving wrong information. "He was employed at only one school before joining Don Bosco in Pune."

The court remanded Falcao, 54, in judicial custody till February 11.

The police had arrested Falcao on January 22, a day after registering an FIR on the girl's complaint. The girl has accused Falcao of misbehaving with her in his office on January 2.

The school administration has defended Falcao and termed the girl's charges a lie.