The security guard of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bhayander along with two accomplices gagged and tied Fr. Dennis Maroki before committing the robbery and fleeing on a two-wheeler on Dec. 3.
Maroki (32) stays on the second floor of the church building.
The incident happened when Maroki, who is studying interior designing at St. Francis Technical Institute at Borivli, went to Mira Road to complete a project ahead of his exams.
When he returned to the church around midnight, the security guard, Deepak Bhandari, accompanied him to his room.
Two of his unidentified accomplices followed him without the priest's knowledge.
As Maroki entered his room, Bhandari and his accomplices charged at him and tied him to a chair with a rope.
After gagging the priest with a towel lying in the room, the men ransacked his room.
They also took away Maroki's wristwatch and mobile phone besides the money and the gold.
The trio made tea for themselves, ate fruits kept in the house and helped themselves to food stocked in the refrigerator before leaving.
The three fled on Maroki's two-wheeler parked in the church premises.
According to Maroki, the three touched his feet before heading towards his vehicle.