}
if (softLock.getTransactionID().equals(getCurrentTransactionContext().getTransactionId())) {
Element currentElement = softLock.getElement(getCurrentTransactionContext().getTransactionId());
if (comparator.equals(element, currentElement)) {
Element removed = softLock.updateElement(null);
underlyingStore.put(oldElement);
getCurrentTransactionContext().updateSoftLock(cacheName, softLock);
// replaced old element with null under soft lock, job done.
LOG.debug("removeElement: cache [{}] key [{}] soft locked in current transaction, replaced old element" +