Millions of dollars of allegedly stolen Indian artworks won't be returned by the National Gallery of Australia, despite the gallery's director admitting the gallery might have been conned.
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NGA director Ron Radford told the ABC the gallery did all possible to confirm the art dealer's identity before making the $5.1 million purchase in 2008.
He said staff had checked many times to ensure the dealer's address was correct.
''I believe they did Google Earth [searches] to see it was not a made-up address and the person existed,'' he said.
The dealer, Subhash Kapoor, will soon go on trial in Chennai, India, for his alleged smuggling activities.
The 11th-century bronze statue he sold to the NGA, titled Shiva as Lord of the Dance allegedly was stolen by one of Kapoor's managers from the Sivan temple in India.
Mr Radford said he was not under pressure to resign over the incident, which could cost the gallery up to $11 million.
