Add JsonArray to JsonObject

I think it is a problem(aka. bug) with the API you are using. JSONArray implements Collection (the json.org implementation from which this API is derived does not have JSONArray implement Collection). And JSONObject has an overloaded put() method which takes a Collection and wraps it in a JSONArray (thus causing the problem). I think you need to force the other JSONObject.put() method to be used:

    jsonObject.put("aoColumnDefs",(Object)arr);

You should file a bug with the vendor, pretty sure their JSONObject.put(String,Collection) method is broken.

here is simple code

List <String> list = new ArrayList <String>();
list.add("a");
list.add("b");
JSONArray array = new JSONArray();
for (int i = 0; i < list.size(); i++) {
        array.put(list.get(i));
}
JSONObject obj = new JSONObject();
try {
    obj.put("result", array);
} catch (JSONException e) {
 // TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
}
pw.write(obj.toString());