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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Co3TaMMyt33RjJQyjvbeMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001135400-04-000002.txt : 20040123
<SEC-HEADER>0001135400-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040123185214
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001135400-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040123

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARACO PHARMACEUTICAL LABORATORIES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000887708
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				382505723
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1150 ELIJAH MCCOY DR
		CITY:			DETROIT
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3138718400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1150 ELIJAH MCCOY DRIVE
		CITY:			DETROIT
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BROOKS WILLIAM C/MI
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001135400

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31773
		FILM NUMBER:		04541687

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1771 SEMINOLE
		CITY:			DETROIT
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48214
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3135712902

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1771 SEMINOLE
		CITY:			DETROIT
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48214
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000887708</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARACO PHARMACEUTICAL LABORATORIES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cpd</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001135400</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BROOKS WILLIAM C/MI</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1771 SEMINOLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DETROIT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48214</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-01-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options are exercisable as follows:   one-third on 01/15/05, one-third on 1/15/06, and the remaining one-third on 01/15/07.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William C. Brooks</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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