-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KBMCsL/y8Cm7PGQUMHfH8pHFJGKdKk+FmYBCDjXy5s3xVjsYhAKX7ivPgPVLmvNb
 kWxtiBl/JLYxGTVCHIwM0w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001283594-04-000002.txt : 20040315
<SEC-HEADER>0001283594-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040315183238
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001283594-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040311
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040315

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MANNEY TIM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001283594

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31773
		FILM NUMBER:		04670863

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 W BIG BEAVER RD
		STREET 2:		STE 460
		CITY:			TROY
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48084
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2485260602

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
</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>2004-03-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283594</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MANNEY TIM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 W. BIG BEAVER RD., SUITE 460</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48084</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>9.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-11</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>9.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-03-11</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 3/11/2005; one-third on 3/11/2006 and one-third on 3/11/2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tim Manney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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