At this time the Prince of Wales was coming to India. The government had planned a grand welcome to him. The Congress declared a boycott of all the functions in connection with his visit. Both the father and the son carried on a campaign in favor of the boycott. It was a great success. The government was furious that of all people Motilal who had been once invited by the British Government as an honoured guest should take such a stand. Several charges were leveled against both the father and the son. They were kept under house arrest. When they neither yielded nor sought a compromise the government finally arrested them. The officer who came to serve the arrest warrant grew nervous and began stammering. The trial was just a farce. Neither of them took any interest in it.

During the trial Motilal was fondling his granddaughter Indira in his arms. Both the 
father and the son were sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay a fine of a hundred rupees each. Carpets and other articles worth thousands of rupees were taken away from Anand Bhavan because Motilal and Jawaharlal were sent to Lucknow jail.

Motilal had once been arguing that India should enjoy dominion status within the British Empire. The same British Government had taken away his personal freedom. When Motilal had to attend the Emperor's court in Delhi, he had got his clothes and footwear from England, now the same man went to jail with his son as a freedom fighter.